Results of Community Survey Show High Support for Levy Increase
Posted July 10, 2024
Residents of the Inver Grove Heights School District (ISD 199) gave the district high grades overall, according to a survey conducted May 20-June 3. The Morris Leatherman Company, a national survey research firm, conducted the stratified random-sample phone survey of 400 residents. A stratified random-sample survey aims to mirror the community’s voter demographics with its respondents. Questions included perceptions of the school district and reactions to potential levy options.
Morris Leatherman consultant Don Lifto presented highlights of the survey results to the school board during their June 17 work session. Highlights included:
- When asked to grade ISD 199 on quality, 77% of respondents who graded the district gave it an A or B. This result is far above the national benchmark of 54% A’s and B’s.
- About 73% of respondents supported an increase of the operating levy to avoid budget cuts and enhance safety.
- 75% supported a levy increase to hire an additional School Resource Officer (SRO) from the Inver Grove Heights Police Department.
- 75% supported a levy increase to prevent class size increases and maintain current programs and staffing.
Click here to view the Morris Leatherman presentation of community survey results.
After hearing Morris Leatherman’s positive survey results and considering the district’s choices for a levy at the June board meetings, the ISD 199 School Board voted to approve a ballot question at its July 15 meeting: Increase the levy by $627 per student.
In addition to the survey results, the board’s decision to approve both levies is based on goals of increasing career and college readiness, remaining competitive, and stabilizing district finances despite underfunding by the state.
Since 2003, state general education funding has not kept up with inflation. This, in addition to declining enrollment due to birth rates, caused a budget shortfall of $1.8 million for the 2024-2025 school year and is projected to cause a shortfall of $2 million for the 2025-2026 school year. The school district made budget cuts for the 2024-2025 shortfall but is going to voters this November to help our schools receive the necessary funding for operation.
In addition to avoiding further budget cuts, the modest levy increase will help the school district enhance safety. A second School Resource Officer, or SRO, would be hired from the IGH Police Department to build relationships with students and address safety concerns. It would also provide some funds to update security equipment that the SRO and staff rely on and increase cybersecurity to ward off cyber attacks that have devastated other school districts and their families.
Currently, Inver Grove Heights Schools has one of the smallest budgets per pupil in Dakota County. Even if the levy passed, the school district would still have the lowest budget per pupil of its surrounding school districts. However, the levy will allow the district to avoid budget cuts, maintain class sizes, and retain effective educators.