SHERBURN — Martin County West School Board this week reviewed the results of a community survey focused on the school district.

School Perceptions collected the data and analyzed the survey. It has been conducting such surveys for 20 years. Sue Petersen and Brian Grinnell led a virtual presentation for board members and visitors. They also answered questions.

The survey was taken in May. There were 645 responses, or 29 percent, deemed excellent feedback by School Perceptions.

There were clear directives from those surveyed, especially about the Welcome school building and proposed gyms.

Some statistics were shared: 11 percent of those responding to the survey were ages 18-25, 39 percent were ages 35-54, 19 percent were ages 55-64 and 28 percent were older than 65. Sixty-five percent of respondents own agricultural land, while 17 percent are employed by the district. Forty-one percent of respondents have children in the school.

When asked if the school affects their home values, 48 percent said it does so positively while 37 percent said there is no impact.

School Perceptions staff believe the most pressing issues stemming from the survey are improvements to the high school and elementary school related to health and safety issues. They explained that bonds have to do with buildings while levies have to do with learning.

Sixty-six percent support a proposed $4.17 million bond while 17 percent do not and another 17 percent are undecided and need more information.

Sixty-seven percent support demolishing the school building in Welcome while 6 percent support keeping the building and 27 percent are not sure.

The information part of the survey reported that the Welcome building was constructed in 1906 and has had several additions. The district estimates that it costs $78,000 for maintenance and utilities. It estimates the cost to demolish the building is $750,000 while keeping it would cost $4.1 million. New gym space, should space in Welcome not be available, is supported by 67 percent of respondents.

A $16 million or $20 million dollar bond referendum is supported by 44 percent while 29 percent do not support it. Others want for more information or to do something later.

Discussion and questions had to do with the failure of the board to have an open meeting explaining its vision and projected enrollment, etc., before sending the survey. A resident suggested that is why there are comments about needing more information.

Information overload also was discussed, and the fact that the survey opened conversations about the district and its issues. Visions of the school and community were discussed. All agreed the school is the heart of the communities they are in and that educating students is paramount in importance.

In other action, the school board:

o Approved hiring Jonah Mayo as part-time agriculture instructor and Lindsey DeHaai as preschool teacher.

o Accepted the resignation of Curtis Smith as track coach.

o Approved a 10-year plan for long-term facilities maintenance.

o Heard a report that there will be a board retreat with representatives of School Perceptions available for survey analysis.

o Discussed a suggestion to build a storage facility by the elementary school for football storage and other storage.

o Heard a report that there are 12 students in summer school, which is down somewhat.

o Learned new windows are being installed on the south side of the elementary school in Sherburn.

o Learned that the next meeting of the school board will be 6:30 p.m. July 15 in Sherburn.