KUSD Launches Community Survey to Gauge Support for Potential Referendum

Kenosha, WI (WLIP)–The Kenosha Unified School District is set to launch a community survey this week to gather public input on a potential school referendum aimed at addressing funding challenges within the district.

At a recent board meeting, Brian Nichol, a consultant from the Donovan Group, provided detailed insights into the survey’s methodology and the board’s plans to ensure the public is informed and engaged throughout the process.

The survey, which opens Wednesday and will remain available until October 10, is designed to assess community support for a referendum question.

Residents can take the anonymous survey online at kusdsurvey.com.

It takes approximately 10-15 mins to complete.

Nichol explained that responses will be weighted to better reflect the makeup of the voting population. “Families and staff tend to respond at a higher rate than other community members,” he said. “We adjust the results to ensure that the broader electorate’s views are accurately represented.”

The survey will offer multiple options for respondents, providing flexibility as the board considers different approaches to addressing district needs.

“While our schools are a big point of pride in our community, KUSD has financial needs stemming from the state’s inequitable funding formula and rising inflationary costs in recent years,” said KUSD Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss in a statement.

“We invite our community to take our survey, learn more about our needs, and provide feedback on how we can best address these needs moving forward.”

KUSD says it is facing financial challenges due to several factors largely out of the district’s control and related to the state of Wisconsin’s school funding system.

The revenue limit imposed by the state has not included the expected inflationary increases over the years, which means that KUSD does not receive adequate revenue to support existing programs and services.

At the same time, costs are rising across all areas of operations and unfunded mandates continue to be imposed on the district.

According to Nichol, past surveys conducted using similar methods have been able to predict election outcomes with 1-3% accuracy. “This weighting formula helps the board understand how the referendum might perform on election day,” he added.

In addition to the survey, the board is developing a comprehensive communications plan to keep the community informed.

The roadmap will guide the district’s outreach efforts, ensuring voters are well-educated about the referendum in the 70 days leading up to the election.

Nichol emphasized the importance of early engagement, saying, “The goal is to have every voter be an informed voter.”

The board is considering holding the referendum in Spring 2025.

The community survey is seen as a critical first step in determining the district’s path forward in addressing funding concerns.

The results of the survey will be presented at the school board’s October meeting.

KUSD says that District leaders and the Board of Education have been examining the district’s needs and looking at potential solutions for the community’s consideration.

They say they will carefully review the survey results before determining next steps in this important process.