By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Niles residents are supportive of their community which includes the schools, but how much so depends on the cost.
In a recent survey of residents in the Niles Community Schools District, 80 percent of the 311 people polled were in support of renovating and fixing items within the district such as security, energy conservation and larger classrooms.
Sixty-five percent of those surveyed were in favor of building a new elementary school, rather than a new high school. Less then half, 46 percent, were in favor of building a new high school.
But with the money it would cost to build those buildings is put into the equation, both options received a negative response.
More than half of the respondents stated they would vote no on both of these options, based on the cost.
This information was presented to the steering committee, which was formed after the completion of the community forums, on Tuesday evening, by Marketing Partners, Inc. of St. Joseph, the firm hired by the district to conduct the phone survey.
Law added, "According to the results a majority of the people in the community are aware that we are looking at putting a bond issue on the ballot, and older citizens (84 percent) were the most aware group."
Another issue the survey raised was that only about one third of those polled said they felt the current condition of the buildings, which received grades of Cs and Ds during the facilities study done by the architectural firm, impede the students education.
A majority of the respondents were not aware of the scope of the problem with the buildings.
Non-voters were somewhat more positive about the projects, which would make getting them out to vote a critical point in the bond issue campaign.
The next step for the steering committee will be to go through the survey information and come up with a package to present to the board of education.
For an end of February vote, the board would have to take action in October. A May vote would require board action in December.
Law added, "Before we make a recommendation, we will probably need some community meetings to discuss the problems and give specific options.