Arcadia school board looks to fill open seat, readies for community survey in October

The Arcadia school board is searching for its next member.

An opening on the board was finalized last week with the board unanimously approving the resignation of former member Rob Hurlburt, who resigned because his family moved outside the district boundaries.

Those interested in filling the open seat on the board should send a letter of interest to the district office by Oct. 20. The board will likely select and appoint a person to fill the seat at its Oct. 24 meeting, board president Paul Servais said at last week’s meeting.

Hurlburt called serving as a board member an “honor” in his resignation letter. Hurlburt was the last member to be appointed to the board just under four years ago, Superintendent Lance Bagstad said.

Interviews for the opening could take place in the future if the board so chooses. There is one confirmed community member that has expressed interest in the opening, Servais said.

A community survey asking Arcadia School District residents about their willingness to support a pair of referendum questions will open in October after the final contents of the survey were also approved by a 6-0 vote at the Arcadia School Board’s meeting last Monday.

The survey, facilitated by School Perceptions, will be a four-step survey and is four pages long. It will cost the district $9,500, according to previous board discussions. Results will be available by early November, Bagstad estimated in a conversation with the Times last week.

Bagstad said at last week’s meeting that the survey will be available both online and on paper with pickup at the district office. 

The district is planning a meeting for Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. to answer any community questions regarding the survey, which will ask residents their feelings about a $350,000 operational referendum as well as a $39.4 million facilities referendum to create a new intermediate school building and upgrade the elementary school building.

The district had previously estimated $34 million would be the maximum it could afford in a referendum ask, but increased enrollment and equalized value increases would allow for a bigger ask and allow the district to improve more without affecting taxes, Bagstad said.

The $350,000 would cover utility costs, maintenance and added fees that accompany more facilities to maintain. Approval of both questions as presented would result in no net tax increases, Bagstad said.