GCSD 2013 School Budget Vote Exit Survey Report

7/27/2019 GCSD 2013 School Budget Vote Exit Survey Report

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PRODUCED IN COOPERATION WITH THE CAPITAL REGION BOCES COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, JUNE 2013

GuilderlandCentral School District

2013 School Budget Vote

Exit Survey Report


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31853417

39673709

3212

2789

874 813

1342

1050 925

587

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Voter Turnout Survey completed

Introduction

The Guilderland Central School District conducted an exit survey

during its Annual School Budget Vote on May 21, 2013. The purpose was to

collect demographic data about who voted on the budget and information about

why voters voted the way they did.

The survey was voluntary and anonymous. Surveys were made available to

voters at the polling sites for anyone who chose to ill one out after voting,

both electronically and in paper form. While these results do not represent the

opinions of all voters, they do provide many residents perceptions about the

district and its proposed budget.

The following data were compiled by the Capital Region BOCES

Communications Service in cooperation with BOCES public information

specialist assigned to Guilderland, Amy Zurlo.

Please note: Percentages, where provided, are out of the number of survey participantswho responded to that particular question, and not out of the total number of survey

participants. For some questions, total percentages may add up to more than 100%

because participants were able to select more than one answer choice.

Guilderland voter turnout and survey participation

In 2013, 2,789 residents voted on Guilderlands school budget. This voter

turnout was the lowest for a budget vote since 2004 and declined by 13% for

the second year in a row. [See chart below.]

Of the 2,789 residents who voted, 587 chose to ill out an exit survey, a responserate of 21%. This response rate is 8 percentage points below last years and

the lowest since the district began conducting exit surveys in 2008. [See chart

below.] Of the 587 completed surveys, 118or 20%were completed online,

more than double last years percentage.

(21%)

(29%)(28%)

(34%)

(24%)(27%)

VOTER TURNOUT AND SURVEY RESPONSE RATE: HISTORICAL TRENDS

In 2013, 21% of

voters filled out

an exit survey, the

lowest particpation

rate since the

district began

conducting exit

survyes in 2008.

2013 GUILDERLAND BUDGET VOTE EXIT SURVEY REPORT 2


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Polling locations

Based on exit survey participation, Westmere Elementary School was the most

popular polling site for the fourth year in a row, with a third (33%) of survey

participants voting there, compared to 47% in 2012. Altamont Elementary,

Guilderland Elementary and Pinebush Elementary all experienced an increase in

percentage of survey respondents. [Note: Due to a data collection error in 2011,

polling location was not determined for 16% of survey respondents.]

Who voted in Guilderlands annual budget vote?

Voters by age group

The chart at right classiies voters by age group, as indicated by exit survey data.

The distribution is similar to that of the past two years, with 62% saying they

are at least 51 years old.

Town and length of residency

Town of Guilderland residents remain the

majority of voters participating in the exit survey,

at 90% of respondents. Bethlehem residents

constituted 8%, while Knox and New Scotland

residents were a combined 2% of survey

respondents.

Once again, half (50%) of the survey respondents

said they have been district residents for at least

20 years, while 28% said 11-20 years and 22%

said theyve been residents for 10 years or less.

The distribution has been similar over the past

four years.

AGE DISTRIBUTION OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS: THREE-YEAR TREND

11%17% 18%

3%

36%

13%18%

15%7%

47%

16%

26%

8%

18%

33%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Altamont Guilderland Lynwood Pinebush Westmere

2011 2012 2013

SURVEY RESPONDENTS BY POLLING LOCATION: THREE-YEAR TREND

4% 5% 4%

35% 33% 35%

36% 35% 34%

25% 28% 27%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

2011 2012 2013

65+

51-64

31-50

18-30



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Parent and non-parent voters

As has been the case since 2009, people withoutchildren currently attending

Guilderland schools are the majority of survey participants. In 2013, they

represented 62% of respondents.

Of these respondents, 73% said one or more child had attended Guilderlandin the past, up from 71% in 2012, and 21% indicated one or more child would

attend in the future, down from 29% last year.

Respondents with children currently attending Guilderland schools (38% of

all participants) indicated the following enrollment distribution:

2011 2012 2013

Grades K-5 .......................54% ..............57% ..............58%

Grades 6-8 .......................38% ..............36% ..............35%

Grades 9-12 ................... 46% ..............43% ..............42%

This data shows a modest but steady increase in survey respondents with

children attending district elementary schools and a similar decrease in

respondents with children attending the middle and/or high schools over the

past three years.

Typical voting habits

In 2013, 83% of survey respondents said they typically vote yes on the

budget (compared with 77% last year), while 13% said they typically vote no

(compared with 16% in 2012), and 4% said they have not voted in the past.

District and non-district employees

Of the 583 respondents who answered this question, 93% said they were not an

employee of the Guilderland Central School District.

How did Guilderland residents vote?

Of those who completed a survey in 2013, 12

participants did not indicate how they voted

on the budget. Of those that did, 432 said they

voted yes on the budget, while 143 said they

voted no.

This represents a margin of 75% in favor

and 25% opposed.

The actual approval rate of the budget was

64%a difference of 11 percentage points

meaning that a higher percentage of yes voters

illed out an exit survey than did no voters.

In our experience, this is not common with

school budget vote exit surveys. In Guilderland,

In 2013, 62% of

survey respondents

said they do not

have children

currently enrolled

at GCSD.

55% 56%

70%

64%59% 63%

75% 75%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

2010 2011 2012 2013

Actual Approval Rate Survey Approval Rate

BUDGET APPROVAL RATES : FOUR-YEAR HISTORY



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the same trend has been evident since 2008, although the margin of difference in

2013 is greater than in prior years.

Budget approval rates among different voter categories

Budget approval rates among survey respondents were were similar acrossall ive polling sites, ranging from 71% at Guilderland Elementary to 79% at

Altamont Elementary.

As was the case last year, at least three-quarters of survey respondents living in

Bethlehem and Guilderland approved the budget (87% and 75%, respectively),

while 50% of those in Knox and 56% of those in New Scotland voted yes on the

budget. It should be noted, however, that those living in Knox and New Scotland

represent just 13 respondents.

Among the survey respondents, a majority approved the budget in 2013

regardless of age or length of time as a district resident. Although approval rates

increased from last year in all but one age category, the approval rate declinedas respondents age increased, a trend consistent with the past two years.

AGE GROUP APPROVAL RATE

2011 2012 2013

18-30 .........................................73% ..............88% ............. 95%

31-50 .........................................72% ..............86% ............. 80%

51-64 .........................................61% ..............71% ............. 75%

65+ .............................................51% ..............66% ............. 68%

Regarding length of residency, approval rates increased or remained steady inevery group since 2012. However, approval rates also declined as respondents

length of district residency increased, again consistent with the past two years.

YEARS AS RESIDENT APPROVAL RATE

2011 2012 2013

0-10 ............................................68% ..............82% ............. 83%

11-20 .........................................67% ..............78% ............. 79%

20+ .............................................58% ..............70% ............. 70%

Respondents with children currently enrolled in Guilderland schools approved

the budget at a higher rate than those without children currently attending

Guilderland. However, the gap between the approval rates of these two groups is

smaller than in the prior two years, as illustrated below.

VOTER CATEGORY APPROVAL RATE

2011 2012 2013

Children currently enrolled ......................... 73% ........87% ...... 84%

No children currently enrolled ................... 57% ........68% ...... 70%



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Regardless of their childrens grade level, respondents with children currently

enrolled in the district approved the budget by at least 84% in 2013, as

shown below.


2011 2012 2013

Children in grades K-5 ...................................80% ......90% ...... 86%

Children in grades 6-8 ...................................75% ......89% ...... 87%

Children in grades 9-12 .................................65% ......83% ...... 84%

Among respondents without children currently attending district schools,

data shows that those who said their children will attend in the future

approved the budget at a higher rate than other groups, as indicated below.


2011 2012 2013

Children previously enrolled .....................61% ........71% .........73%

Children never attended ..............................47% ........71% .........69%

Children will enroll in future .....................71% ........86% .........93%

Children will not enroll in future ............. 53% ........68% .........56%

This year, 88% of respondents who said they typically vote yes approved

the 2013 budget proposal, while 93% of those who said they typically vote

no voted against the budget. About two-thirds (68%) of those who said

they were voting for the irst time voted in favor of the budget.

Of the 2013 respondents who indicated they are district employees, the approval

rate was 93%, compared with an approval rate of 74% for those who said they

are not district employees.

How do Guilderland voters feel about exceeding the tax cap?

For the second year, Guilderland survey participants were asked about the

states new tax levy cap and whether or not they would be willing to support

a budget that exceeds the districts tax levy limit if doing so meant fewer cuts to

programs and services for students. About half (52%) said they would be willingto do so, compared with 65% who said so last year. About one-quarter (27%)

said they would not be willing, and 21% said they were unsure.

Of those who said they would be willing to do so, 97% voted yes on this years

budget, while just 29% of those unwilling to exceed the limit approved the

budget.

Approval rate among

non-district parents

By ltering the surveyresponses using mulple

quesons, it can be

determined that 33

respondents in 2013 either

have no children or have

chosen to enroll their

children elsewhere (i.e., their

children are not currently

enrolled at Guilderland, have

never aended Guilderland

and will not aend in the

future).

Among these 33 non-

district parent respondents,

the budget approval rate

was 64%.

In 2012, the budget approval

rate for the 52 non-district

parent respondents was

73%. In 2011, it was 42% for

the 96 respondents.



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Why do voters vote the way they do?

The following, in descending order, are the reasons given by the yes

respondents for approving the budget:

I support investing in education ...................................................86%

I am pleased with the quality of education ..............................67%

The budget meets the needs of our students ..........................56%

The spending/tax increase is reasonable .................................52%

I have children/grandchildren in the schools ........................35%

The budget addresses a service/program

that is important to me .....................................................................15%

Other reason [see comments, pp. 17-19] ....................................11%

The following, in descending order, are the reasons given by the no

respondents for voting against the budget:

The spending/tax increase is not reasonable ......................... 67%

I support education, but cant afford the cost ......................... 47%

I do not have children/grandchildren in the schools .......... 23%

I am not pleased with the quality of education ...................... 17%

The budget does not meet the needs of our students ......... 12%

The budget fails to provide a service/program

that is important to me ........................................................................9%

Other reason [see comments, pp. 21-22] .................................... 28%

From this data, one can draw a few conclusions; namely, that:

While half of the yes respondents said the tax increase was reasonable,

two-thirds of the no respondents found it to be unreasonable.

Providing a quality educational program for students remains important

to Guilderland voters. Similar to last years data, more than four in ive

yes respondents said they support investing in education, and half

the no respondents agreed, but said their economic circumstances

prevented it.

Again, similar to last year, two-thirds of the yes respondents are pleased

with Guilderlands educational program, while 17% of no respondents

said they are not.



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Where did Guilderland voters get their information

about the budget?

Among survey respondents, 88% said they had adequate information about the

budget, similar to last year.

Once again, the top two budget information sources are the district newsletter

and local newspapers, respectively. As in 2012, ive of the top six sources of

budget information were district sources.

2011 2012 2013

District newsletter ............................................74% ............ 70% ............. 74%

Local newspapers .............................................40% ............ 40% ............. 32%

District website ..................................................26% ............ 25% ............. 27%

School newsletters ...........................................31% ............ 27% ............. 25%

School News Notiier (SNN) .........................16% ............ 16% .............21%

Board of Education meetings .......................16% ............ 14% .............15%

Friends/neighbors ...........................................16% ............ 13% ............. 11%

District staff members ....................................12% ............ 12% .............11%Public budget meetings ..................................14% ..............7% ................8%

Cable Channel 16/18 .......................................18% ............ 13% ...............8%

PTA meetings ....................................................... 4% ................4% ................4%

District Facebook page .................................... 2% ................2% ................3%

District Twitter page......................................... 1% ................1% ................1%

Other source [see p. 25] ...................................7% ................4% ................5%

Bus and equipment purchase proposition approval rates

The actual approval rate for this years bus purchase proposion was 62% in favor to

38% opposed. A total of 2,777 votes were cast on the proposion, which is 12 votes

fewer than were cast on the budget.As with the budget vote, the approval rate for this proposion was higher among

exit survey parcipants, at 72%, than among actual voters.

As was the case in 2012, exit survey data show that support for the bus purchase

declined as respondents age increased and as respondents length of residency in

the district increased. More than four-hs of respondents (84%) who have children

currently aending district schools approved the bus purchase, while two-thirds

(65%) of those who do not have children currently enrolled oered their support.

[See data, pp. 45-46.]

Also, 96% of those who approved the bus purchase voted yes on the budget,

while only 24% who voted against the purchase supported the budget.



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Among those respondents who said they had adequate information about the

budget, 80% approved the budget compared to 42% who said they did not

have enough information. Regardless of where respondents got their budget

information, a majority approved the budget.

INFO SOURCE APPROVAL RATES

2011 2012 2013

District newsletter ............................................66% ............ 79% ............. 78%

Local newspapers .............................................57% ............ 71% ............. 77%

District website ..................................................71% ............ 89% ............. 88%

School newsletters ...........................................64% ............ 76% .............77%

School News Notiier (SNN) .........................78% ............ 88% .............90%

Board of Education meetings .......................72% ............ 85% .............84%

Friends/neighbors ...........................................65% ............ 82% ............. 78%

District staff members ....................................82% ............ 91% .............91%

Public budget meetings ..................................68% ............ 90% .............78%

Cable Channel 16/18 .......................................66% ............ 72% .............67%

PTA meetings ......................................................80% ...........100% ............ 95%

District Facebook page ...................................80% ............ 82% .............93%

District Twitter page.......................................100% ........... 50% ............100%

Who were the yes voters in Guilderland?

In 2013, of the 432 survey respondents who said they voted yes on the budget:

34% voted at Westmere Elementary School

89% said they live in the Town of Guilderland

46% said they have lived in the district for 20 or more years

58% said they are at least 51 years old

95% said they typically vote yes on the budget;

1% said they typically vote no

58% said they do not have children currently attending Guilderland

schools

93% said they received adequate information about the budget

76% said the district newsletter was their source of budget information;

32% said local newspapers and 31% said the district website

91% said they also approved the bus purchase proposition

67% said they would be willing to exceed the tax cap in the future

9% said they are district employees



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Who were the no voters in Guilderland?

In 2013, of the143 survey respondents who said they voted no on the budget:

29% voted at Westmere Elementary, equal to the percentage who voted at

Guilderland Elementary 92% said they live in the Town of Guilderland

60% said they have lived in the district for 20 or more years

71% said they are at least 51 years old

52% said they typically vote no on the budget; 42% said they typically

vote yes

75% said they do not have children currently attending Guilderland

schools

72% said they received adequate information about the budget

69% said the district newsletter was their source of budget information;30% said local newspapers and 14% said the district website

87% said they also voted no on the bus purchase proposition

78% said they would notbe willing to exceed the tax cap in the future

2% said they are district employees



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Survey Response Summary:

Survey participants responses

to all questions



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1. At which elementary school are you voting today?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Altamont Elementary School 15.7% 92

Guilderland Elementary School 25.6% 150

Lynnwood Elementary School 8.0% 47

Pine Bush Elementary School 18.2% 107

Westmere Elementary School 32.5% 191

answered question 587

skipped question 0

2. In which town do you live?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Guilderland 89.7% 525

Bethlehem 8.0% 47

Knox 0.7% 4

New Scotland 1.5% 9


skipped question 2



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3. How many years have you been a district resident?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

0-10 22.3% 130

11-20 28.1% 164

20+ 49.6% 289


skipped question 4

4. Are you an employee of the school district?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Yes 7.2% 42

No 92.8% 541


skipped question 4

5. Do you currently have children attending Guilderland Schools?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Yes, I have children currently

attending Guilderland37.9% 221

No, I do not have children

currently attending Guilderland62.1% 362


skipped question 4



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6. If yes, what level(s) of school do they attend?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Grades K-5 58.1% 126

Grades 6-8 34.6% 75

Grades 9-12 42.4% 92


skipped question

7. If no, did your children ever attend Guilderland Schools?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Yes, my children attended

Guilderland schools in the past.72.9% 15

No, my children have never

attended Guilderland schools.27.1% 5

answered question

skipped question

8. If no, will your children attend Guilderland Schools when they are older?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Yes, my children will attend

Guilderland schools in the future.2.% 1

No, my children will not attend

Guilderland schools in the

future.

7.% 5

answered question

skipped question 4



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9. What age category pertains to you?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

18-30 3.5% 20

31-50 34.8% 201

51-64 34.3% 198

65+ 27.4% 158


skipped question 10

10. How did you vote on the proposed 2013-14 budget today?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Yes, in favor 75.1% 432

No, opposed 24.9% 143


skipped question 12



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Why did you vote YES on the proposed 2013-14 budget? (Check all that apply.)

Response

Percent

Response

Count

The budget meets the needs of ourstudents

56.1% 236

The spending/tax increase is

reasonable51.5% 217

I am pleased with the quality of

education provided by Guilderland

Schools

67.0% 282

I support investing in education 85.5% 360

I have children/grandchildren in the

schools35.2% 148

The budget addresses a service or

program that is important to me

(please specify below)

15.2% 64

Other reason (Please specify

below.)11.4% 48

Other reason/specific service or program

60


skipped question 11



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Q11. Why did you vote YES on the proposed 2013-14 budget? (Check all that apply.)

1 I'd rather spend more and have more teachers, etc. Jun 24, 2013 11:21 AM

2 It is the "best" of a terrible situation. Jun 23, 2013 3:27 PM

3 [Despite yes vote] The budget does not meet the needs of the students. Jun 23, 2013 3:23 PM

4 Music and athletics especially Jun 23, 2013 3:17 PM

5 Budget finally gets rid of a house principal at FMS. The district is still too topheavy though.

Jun 23, 2013 3:16 PM

6 Music - it's not just about sports Jun 23, 2013 2:59 PM

7 Special Education - in house PT Services Jun 23, 2013 2:57 PM

8 Program important to me: Support help (for struggling students) Jun 23, 2013 1:06 PM

9 Child have an I.E.P. Jun 21, 2013 3:56 PM

10 I was please to see the enrichment teacher for the middle school and special edteachers were added back in due to State funds being found. These areimportant to me!

Jun 21, 2013 3:36 PM

11 Enrichment teacher at FMS Jun 21, 2013 3:33 PM

12 Kept enrichment at M.S. accelerated program. Keep H.S. music Jun 21, 2013 3:23 PM

13 Music education, Special Ed. services Jun 21, 2013 3:21 PM

14 Although I am concerned about teachers salaries and benefits being too high. Jun 21, 2013 2:45 PM

15 Art Education Jun 21, 2013 2:44 PM

16 Enrichment Jun 21, 2013 2:41 PM

17 I would spend more to keep our schools great! Jun 21, 2013 2:35 PM

18 Support public Ed! Jun 21, 2013 2:27 PM

19 Education is an investment! Jun 21, 2013 2:26 PM

20 My job Jun 21, 2013 1:40 PM

21 Guilderland has provided an excellent education for my two grown children. APArt, Vo-Tech & combined 9th grade Social Studies/English have been programs

that really helped my children excel.

Jun 21, 2013 1:37 PM

22 Music, academics Jun 20, 2013 11:53 AM

23 Superintendent Wiles is doing the best she can in challenging fiscal times. Jun 20, 2013 11:43 AM

24 No response Jun 17, 2013 3:46 PM

25 Jobs Jun 17, 2013 3:23 PM



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26 Best compromise for current situation Jun 17, 2013 2:17 PM

27 Former teacher Jun 17, 2013 2:13 PM

28 I am a graduate of G.H. My children are graduates and I have nieces in thedistrict.

Jun 17, 2013 12:45 PM

29 No response. Jun 17, 2013 12:43 PM




33 The least of the evils Jun 17, 2013 12:07 PM

34 Library Jun 13, 2013 6:30 PM

35 I work with children that attend these schools through the YMCA. Jun 13, 2013 6:00 PM

36 I would support a higher budget - education is very important Jun 5, 2013 6:27 PM

37 I work in ASCD Jun 5, 2013 6:20 PM

38 Well done with what you had to work with! Jun 5, 2013 6:14 PM

39 Athletics Jun 4, 2013 5:46 PM

40 The alternative is worse for the children Jun 4, 2013 5:38 PM

41 I feel program has been cut too deeply over the last few years. Jun 4, 2013 5:30 PM

42 BOCES/Special Education Jun 4, 2013 5:30 PM

43 I think the budget should have been higher so teachers and programs did notneed to be cut.

Jun 3, 2013 5:54 PM

44 Programs, especially for special needs students ie: tutoring and gifted Jun 3, 2013 5:48 PM

45 Do NOT cut music program any further. Jun 3, 2013 5:40 PM

46 The district is doing a good job of maintaining/reducing expenses Jun 3, 2013 5:37 PM

47 If anything we could spend more to maintain programs in Arts, Counseling, etc. Jun 3, 2013 5:34 PM

48 The budget should be larger Jun 3, 2013 5:31 PM

49 Honestly, I wish that there were more services provided and that the teachersweren't being cut. Why is there no gifted and talented program at theelementary level? What happened to Spanish in the elementary school?

May 21, 2013 7:16 PM

50 As a teacher in Guilderland School DIstrict I support my district and want to seeour district maintain its quality. I also want to preserve as many teachers and

May 21, 2013 6:44 PM



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jobs as possible.

51 My children received a n excellent education and I have always supported thebudget when others voted against it in the 1990's.

May 21, 2013 6:23 PM

52 I support art education. May 21, 2013 5:14 PM

53 represents the best that can be done given the state's refusal to do its share May 21, 2013 4:52 PM

54 i want to retain property value with a good school dist as long as budget is undercap

May 21, 2013 4:18 PM

55 If the budget isn't passed, things will be WORSE. May 21, 2013 4:08 PM

56 I'm a former student, I believe I received a high quality education in theGuilderland School district, and I believe in providing a future for others tosucceed as well.

May 21, 2013 2:41 PM

57 special need services May 21, 2013 1:29 PM

58 I have no choice. May 21, 2013 11:38 AM

59 continuing to keep full time assistants in the Kindergarten classroom May 21, 2013 9:44 AM

60 The alternative will have devastating effects to the schools and community. Weneed to overturn the tax cap and increase funding to public education.

May 21, 2013 9:41 AM



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Why did you vote NO on the proposed 2013-14 budget? (Check all that apply.)

Response

Percent

Response

Count

The budget does not meet theneeds of our students

12.3% 16

The spending/tax increase is not

reasonable66.9% 87

I am not pleased with the quality of

education provided by Guilderland

Schools

16.9% 22

I support education, but can't

afford the cost46.9% 61

I do not have children/grandchildren

in the schools23.1% 30

The budget fails to provide a

service or program that is important

to me (please specify below)

8.5% 11

Other reason (please specify

below)27.7% 36

Other reason/specific service or program

39


skipped question 13



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Q12. Why did you vote NO on the proposed 2013-14 budget? (Check all that apply.)

1 Cut sports Jun 24, 2013 11:08 AM

2 Taxes are too high. Get the unions out of education. Jun 24, 2013 11:07 AM

3 Poor communication with families outside the normal. Pay increase for teachersin new contract.

Jun 23, 2013 3:19 PM

4 Staff get a step every year at their tenure. Until the economy improves COLAneeds to be zero.

Jun 23, 2013 3:18 PM

5 I am sick and tired of the teacher's union running Guilderland Schools. Jun 23, 2013 3:14 PM

6 Poor schooling, pulled our children Jun 23, 2013 3:13 PM

7 School tax makes up the most expense of my total tax bill Jun 23, 2013 3:08 PM

8 My prayer is that the school district will manage the abundant resources alreadyimbedded in the budget and our high taxes. Innovation, wise spending,

conservative efforts & action/choices taken to benefit the highest good of ourchildren's training and educational experiences. These are the intentions andimplementations needed in the districts economic environment. Thank you foryour service.

Jun 23, 2013 3:05 PM

9 School employees do not carry a fair pension/medical cost burden as privateindustry does.

Jun 23, 2013 3:03 PM

10 The continued reliance on other tax $ to attempt to solve problems & the lack ofresponsibility of this board for recognizing they negotiated unsustainable benefitsthat lead to program sacrifices for kids.

Jun 23, 2013 2:52 PM

11 Wifi is dangerous and shouldn't be in the schools. The focus on testing is not

very educational

Jun 23, 2013 1:14 PM

12 MYOB Jun 23, 2013 1:10 PM

13 Waste too much of it, buying just to buy to justify raising budget is not fiscalmanagement

Jun 21, 2013 3:41 PM

14 Health benefits for school systems too generous, we cannot afford the cost. Jun 21, 2013 3:10 PM

15 Money should be spend appropriately. Cut the high union increases, no one elsegets raises.

Jun 21, 2013 2:32 PM

16 Cut the benefits. Jun 21, 2013 2:18 PM

17 No funding should be by property tax Jun 21, 2013 1:53 PM

18 Getting out of hand, too costly. Jun 21, 2013 1:30 PM

19 Meaningful steps to get cost of salary, benefits and retirement in check Jun 17, 2013 4:39 PM

20 Top heavy, too many administrators Jun 17, 2013 4:36 PM

21 Sports. Too many cuts in staff. Jun 17, 2013 1:47 PM



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Q12. Why did you vote NO on the proposed 2013-14 budget? (Check all that apply.)

22 Need to know what the tax levy was- it was left as a question mark Jun 17, 2013 11:35 AM

23 The education is for the kids, reduce administration & salaries there. Jun 13, 2013 6:29 PM

24 Cut administrators, eliminate tenure, annual salary for a 10 month position? Jun 13, 2013 6:21 PM

25 Some non-core programs are extravagant. Jun 13, 2013 6:19 PM

26 School/Ed focus is all wrong; too much emphasis on social services. Jun 13, 2013 6:11 PM

27 More money does NOT provide better education! Jun 13, 2013 6:03 PM

28 We have to live within our budget!! Why don't the schools?? Jun 13, 2013 5:57 PM

29 Funds go to Unions for which I do NOT support! Jun 5, 2013 6:08 PM

30 Taxes are too high already Jun 5, 2013 5:50 PM

31 Reduce Administrative staff - far too many Jun 4, 2013 5:34 PM

32 Advanced classes Jun 4, 2013 5:32 PM

33 I feel that there are to many cuts to instructional staff and not enough cuts inadministration.

May 21, 2013 6:31 PM

34 The district does not permit a significant conversation with taxpayers on thelearning goal, teaching methods, achievement results and the relationship tospending.

May 21, 2013 5:48 PM

35 the budget supports programs I don't feel are as important than programs it doesNOT support.

May 21, 2013 5:39 PM

36 The schools should learn to live on a budget - like the rest of us have had to. May 21, 2013 4:31 PM

37 Trying to save my home as you will be doing the same when you get older.School taxes should be paid by the people using the service not by just thehome owner.

May 21, 2013 3:03 PM

38 goes beyond tax cap May 21, 2013 1:23 PM

39 better control of costs vice outcome needed May 21, 2013 10:33 AM



23/56

13. Do you feel that you had adequate information about the proposed budget?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Yes 87.9% 485

No 12.1% 67


skipped question 35



24/56

14. Where did you get information about the 2013-14 proposed budget? (Check all that

apply)

Response

Percent

Response

Count

District newsletters 74.2% 388

School newsletters 25.4% 133

District Web site 27.0% 141

District Facebook page 2.9% 15

District Twitter page 0.4% 2

School News Notifier (SNN) 21.2% 111

Board of Education meetings 14.7% 77

Public budget meetings 7.6% 40

Cable Channel 16/18 8.4% 44

PTA meetings 4.0% 21

District staff members 11.1% 58

Friends/neighbors 11.3% 59

Local newspapers 31.7% 166

Other (please specify)4.6% 24


skipped question 64



25/56

Q14. Where did you get information about the 2013-14 proposed budget? (Check all that apply)

1 Looked at the budget Jun 23, 2013 3:23 PM

2 District is awful, stop wasting money Jun 23, 2013 3:13 PM

3 Alt. Enter Jun 23, 2013 3:09 PM

4 School District seems to have excessive management cost Jun 23, 2013 3:08 PM

5 Town newsletter Jun 23, 2013 3:05 PM

6 Library Jun 23, 2013 1:13 PM

7 Don't know too much Jun 21, 2013 3:51 PM

8 No where Jun 21, 2013 3:48 PM

9 Altamont Enterprise Jun 21, 2013 3:33 PM

10 Union Jun 21, 2013 3:31 PM

11 Superintendent Jun 21, 2013 2:12 PM

12 Superintendent Wiles addressed the neighborhood association Jun 20, 2013 11:43 AM

13 Enterprise Jun 17, 2013 4:41 PM

14 Teachers Jun 17, 2013 4:26 PM

15 local papers Jun 17, 2013 12:18 PM

16 My mom Jun 17, 2013 12:05 PM

17 Everything is a secret when the school is looking for money! Jun 13, 2013 5:57 PM

18 Ray outside Jun 5, 2013 6:12 PM

19 Altamont Enterprise Jun 5, 2013 5:59 PM

20 None Jun 5, 2013 5:26 PM

21 mail May 21, 2013 8:29 PM

22 McKownville Neighborhood Association -- Don Reeb May 21, 2013 7:35 PM

23 All but friends and neighbors. May 21, 2013 4:31 PM

24 Enterprise May 21, 2013 2:58 PM



26/56


27/56

18. Additional Comments

Response

Count

95


skipped question 492



28/56

Q18. Additional Comments

1 I believe the school district should stop teaching unfunded mandates and fightthe State & Feds. They should also stop teaching to the test. We are turning outa student who is learning how to raise a school score, but not the level ofeducation that is needed to develop into a well rounded person. We need to

allow teachers to teach not look over there shoulders

Jun 23, 2013 3:23 PM

2 [re: exceeding tax limit] No automatic pay raises for unionized workers. Jun 23, 2013 3:19 PM

3 I have not decided if my children will attend Guilderland when they are older. Thefinancial needs of residents need to be taken into consideration. Salaries need tobe brought into alignment.

Jun 23, 2013 3:18 PM

4 I would vote yes [to exceed tax limit] as long as taxes didn't jump too high tooquickly. Having attended BOE meetings in the past I feel the need to addsomething not addressed in this poll. I find it hard to comprehend the level ofanimosity and stone walling that I have witnessed at these meetings on a regularbasis. Our children are deserving of a group of adults who can work together in aspirit of community, especially since that is one of the key components that this

wonderful school system actively advocates and teaches. Eventually the smallmindedness and cynic thinking will make it down to their level. In these difficulttimes open minded, creative, cooperative thinking is the only thing that will helpserve the multi-level needs of our incredibly diverse community. I sincerely hopethat these grown ups can lay down these weapons now.

Jun 23, 2013 3:17 PM

5 The budget meets most of (not all) the needs of our students. The district needsto invest in the LA program as it has over the last several years in the mathprogram. Our kids are not being taught proper grammar and sentence structure.Overall, most are weak to average in writing papers and essays. If the districtcontinues to only teach to NYS Standards instead of teach what's best for thekids and what they actually need to know, then myself and many others will voteno on future proposed budgets.

Jun 23, 2013 3:16 PM

6 [RE: exceeding cap] Not unless someone first takes on the teacher's union. Icame here to vote today mainly because I wanted to vote NO on the librarybudget. The library leadership has made no realistic plan to improve operationssince their proposed library bond was defeated last year. The crisis with thelibrary roof? Interesting to note that state funding somehow is now available todeal with this problem. The library leadership is elitist, has not respect for theaverage Guilderland resident, and is completely out-of-touch with the majority ofthe people of Guilderland.

Jun 23, 2013 3:14 PM

7 [GCSD] is a poorly run district! Will never [support exceeding tax limit]. You needto take a good look at your teachers especially at GES. They are terrible, dowhat they want, barely follow curriculum. Utter disgrace at GES, terrible, horrible

experience. BTW our children excel at their current school. Why? Continuity,structure, excellent teaching! Parents are welcomed. Both husband and I highlyeducated, Phd and 4 teaching degrees! GES is a joke.

Jun 23, 2013 3:13 PM

8 My voting experience today was horrible - my ballot wouldn't go thru. Theattendant took my ballot and read all my selections!!! No privacy whatsoever -miss the old machines!!

Jun 23, 2013 3:11 PM

9 Why did you stay under 2% when you could go up to almost 4%? I just moved Jun 23, 2013 3:10 PM



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into Guilderland because of the schools. Don't let the tax cap hurt the quality ofeducation here in Guilderland. Override the cap or at least spend up to the actuallimit.

10 Stop cutting out of fear! We will pass the budget! Jun 23, 2013 3:10 PM

11 [Against exceeding tax limit] only because there needs to be a broader way toaddress the problem, and not with teachers/parents on one side and propertyowners on the other

Jun 23, 2013 3:09 PM

12 [RE: typical vote] How about, it depends on what I'm voting for. Jun 23, 2013 3:08 PM

13 [RE: exceeding tax limit] Depends on what would be cut. Jun 23, 2013 3:07 PM

14 [I am a] Retired employee Jun 23, 2013 3:06 PM

15 No typical vote, depends on the budget Jun 23, 2013 3:06 PM

16 [In determining my vote] I consider the economics of the time and other factsavailable.

Jun 23, 2013 3:05 PM

17 My vote varies year to year Jun 23, 2013 3:04 PM

18 [RE: exceeding tax limit] The high cost is pension/medical coverage notprograms. I and many neighbors will vote no until a fair sharing of pension(401k/a) and medical benefits cost is carried by school district staff. This is howwe have to fun our benefits in private industry/business.

Jun 23, 2013 3:03 PM

19 [I am a] Retired employee of the district Jun 23, 2013 3:03 PM

20 [Got budget info from] Altamont Enterprise Jun 23, 2013 3:02 PM

21 [I am a] former district employee. With all due respect it is time for BarbaraFraterrigo to retire from the board. Appreciate her extensive service.

Jun 23, 2013 3:01 PM

22 We need to educate our children. Jun 23, 2013 3:00 PM

23 [Willing to support exceeding tax limit] If principals and teachers considered noraises and reasonable retirement packages.

Jun 23, 2013 2:59 PM

24 [RE: exceeding the tax limit] Be careful! Jun 23, 2013 2:53 PM

25 [RE: education funding crisis] Unless the unions give real concessions there willnot be change.

Jun 23, 2013 2:52 PM

26 I typically vote no since I retired Jun 23, 2013 2:51 PM

27 The children of today deserve the same level of education that my childrenreceived.

Jun 23, 2013 2:50 PM

28 You need not know [how I voted]. The call it a secret ballot Jun 23, 2013 2:06 PM

29 Please [post] better parking signs Jun 23, 2013 1:29 PM



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30 I am a retired teacher Jun 23, 2013 1:06 PM

31 Taxes in this town are to high. Something must be done to finance schoolsanother way!

Jun 23, 2013 12:57 PM

32 Was an employee of the district. Grandchildren currently attend elementary andhigh school in district.

Jun 23, 2013 12:55 PM

33 Grandchildren attend elementary schools Jun 23, 2013 12:53 PM

34 Grandchildren attend elementary schools Jun 23, 2013 12:52 PM

35 The tax cap is unfair to our children. Standardized testing has been increased tobe more than necessary and you should join other districts in protesting itsadverse impact on programs and students.

Jun 23, 2013 12:45 PM

36 Live within the mandated limits. The school district is way too top heavy. TheSchool Board and Administration does not set reasonable cost reduction goals.

Jun 21, 2013 3:41 PM

37 School district does a fantastic job!! Very pleased with the education my childrenreceived there.

Jun 21, 2013 3:25 PM

38 Thank you for your effort for the next generation. Jun 21, 2013 3:19 PM

39 Teachers salaries and benefits along with retirement benefits need to be broughtin line with private companies.

Jun 21, 2013 2:45 PM

40 I support visual arts education. I would support higher taxes to maintainprograms.

Jun 21, 2013 2:44 PM

41 Please continue to invest in full day Kindergarten including full time teacher's

assistants or aides in the classroom.

Jun 21, 2013 2:36 PM

42 Stop cutting from the schools. I moved here for the schools. Keep cutting andthey will not have the excellent programs they now offer and will go downhill.

Jun 21, 2013 2:35 PM

43 Quite concerned re: School Cuts. Reduction in staff has already affected qualityof programs. Might vote "no" for budgets containing any more cuts to FACULTY,STAFF AND/or PROGRAMS!

Jun 21, 2013 2:34 PM

44 Would love a H.S. Marching Band! Smaller class sizes! Would support goingover cap if those included

Jun 21, 2013 1:43 PM

45 The district should encourage more students to pursue VoTech education. Intough economic times, it is the students with skill based educations who excel.

Our economy will always need plumbers, mechanics, electricians, networking,nutritionists, etc. We need to encourage students to pursue these avenues,whose education is better suited to go that route than the traditional white collar

job route. We also need to educate students about the various ways to earnmoney and manage their finances.

Jun 21, 2013 1:37 PM

46 We have to strive to keep down the cost. I also think it unfair for seniors (65+) tohave to pay school taxes when they have no children in school. The tax shouldbe reduced for the seniors. The school taxes are driving the seniors out of their

Jun 21, 2013 1:30 PM



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homes and districts.

47 Don't agree with all the time and money that is spent on standardized testing forthe children.

Jun 17, 2013 3:24 PM

48 School districts should be consolidated, one county-one school district like it is inmost of the country.

Jun 17, 2013 3:23 PM

49 Reduce mid management costs. Jun 17, 2013 2:55 PM

50 I did not believe the candidates for the library board were qualified to be in thatposition. Thank you.

Jun 17, 2013 2:52 PM

51 Question 11 was poorly worded. I could vote yes on a budget that exceeds thetax cap under the right circumstances.

Jun 17, 2013 2:42 PM

52 Taxes in general are getting too high up to 10,000 per year between school andproperty

Jun 17, 2013 1:55 PM

53 Please push to get rid of the excessive testing- ELA+Math+SLO's= too muchtesting and too much loss of instructional time.

Jun 17, 2013 12:29 PM

54 I am not pleased with the current testing situation. I feel it is too lengthy and toofrequent and too expensive. I fo not believe it is an accurate reflectioni oflearning. I do believe some changes need to occur.

Jun 17, 2013 12:13 PM

55 School taxes are too high and this budget continues to add to the problem. Jun 17, 2013 11:55 AM

56 School and education is for future taxpayers and citizens of our state benefitthem not out administrators and political influences.

Jun 13, 2013 6:29 PM

57 The district bulletin failed to clearly state the current enrollment in the district.$91,000,000.00 plus is outrageous! At 77% of the gross budget, salaries andbenefits are too large. There is no proposal or budget for professional lawenforcement presence in our schools during regular school hours. This is anunforgivable mistake. The entire school board and the teaching staff need to bemore responsible, less trendy and more scholarly, before our public educationgoes the way or our pubic mail service!

Jun 13, 2013 6:14 PM

58 I would love to see the transportation addressed to make sense. We have 5busses on our residential street, can we not find a way to consolidate routes,taxes and services?

Jun 13, 2013 6:03 PM

59 Once again there was an error with my name in the voting log but at least thisyear it was on the list! Hopefully next year (the fifth time I have voted) it will

finally be correct! You need to really check records of those people in yourdistrict to make sure they are correct, not just assume they are right when theyare not!

Jun 13, 2013 6:00 PM

60 No matter how I vote the school budget is always passed!! Retired people live onBUDGETS! Schools need to ALSO!

Jun 13, 2013 5:57 PM

61 Do not raise my taxes! Jun 13, 2013 5:55 PM



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62 This budget has too many cuts to support GCSD's educational philosophy! But, Ihope funding sources are restored in the future.

Jun 13, 2013 5:53 PM

63 I see no reason why the residents of Guilderland should be paying for increased

health insurance premiums for the school district employees. The employeesshould be paying for increases and there should be a cap on what the district willpay.

Jun 5, 2013 6:30 PM

64 Thank you for working so hard to make a reasonable budget with the leastamount of children affected.

Jun 5, 2013 6:14 PM

65 We need lower taxes. Get the unions out of education. As a state, NY is failingand heading for bankruptcy. This cannot continue at this level of spending andtaxes. The school budget is over 75% dedicated to payroll and benefits. Thetruth is that the children come last, not first, with our educators. This is shameful.

Jun 5, 2013 6:10 PM

66 We need lower taxes, remove the unions! Jun 5, 2013 6:08 PM

67 My wife and I have grandchildren in the District. We think the schools andchildren need support. Cuts will hurt them.

Jun 5, 2013 5:30 PM

68 We cannot continue to raise taxes year after year. Jun 4, 2013 12:09 PM

69 Disappointed with allocation. Need more for students! Not staff. However, Iunderstand the insurance crisis.

Jun 4, 2013 12:00 PM

70 Fire at least half the teachers. Jun 3, 2013 6:00 PM

71 Education is the future! Jun 3, 2013 5:32 PM

72 This budget was too low. You are eliminating too many positions and programs.

The next budget should be much higher - going above the state imposed cap isnecessary. Too much money is being spent for District Administrators, and notenough for teachers.

Jun 3, 2013 5:31 PM

73 We can't support these increases each year. Some unnecessary costs must bereduced even though people complain. Sports and music should be voluntaryand pay as you go. Attention to academics should come first. This is a sadopinion to have, but when benefits to teachers and retirees rise 15% per year,what choice do we have?

Jun 3, 2013 5:20 PM

74 I'm deeply troubled by the policy of cutting funding for education. I think the taxcap was and is a terrible idea, especially when combined with reduced state aid.

Jun 3, 2013 5:09 PM

75 Investment in education is crucial to the future.... keep up the good work! May 21, 2013 8:42 PM

76 Hooray for Democracy! May 21, 2013 7:50 PM

77 Please generously fund your district school libraries. School libraries requiremuch more than the meager $6.25 per student that the state provides school.Ensure that all students in every school has access to a full time certified librarymedia specialist and a library that is staffed and open to students Monday thruFriday all day. The town of Guilderland has one strong main branch publiclibrary, but does not service all of the communities of the town due to its location.

May 21, 2013 7:35 PM



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Students who cannot easily get to this library desperately need strong schoollibraries if they are going to attain the 21st century skills that all students need tosucceed. Thank you.

78 voted no on library. feel library is thing of past. a computer and broadband inevery child's home may be more cost effective! May 21, 2013 7:17 PM

79 VERY IMPORTANT to support educational services-----so tired of thepolitization of these votes and way NYS has withdrawn support---what is Prince

Andrew's problem w schools?????

May 21, 2013 7:08 PM

80 support music and the arts, they are not optional! May 21, 2013 7:06 PM

81 I just want to make sure that the emotional needs of the students are beingattended. The district cut the social worker's last year, and with the increasingemotional needs of special kids or with kids being exposed to television orgaming products kids need more guidance in interacting with each other. Also,my fourth grader has 5-15 minutes of recess a day. Where are the kids going to

have unstructured time with each other to practice good social behaviors? Kidsneed time to unwind, stretch their legs, get the sun, use their eye sights, somany things. Yes, academics are important, but we need to address the wholechild, not only test scores or grades.

May 21, 2013 6:11 PM

82 The district needs to move towards performance based budgeting, making areasonable connection among learning goals, teaching methods, actualachievement and categorical spending. And this should be done in an open, fairand substantive way with the public.

May 21, 2013 5:48 PM

83 Thank you! May 21, 2013 5:16 PM

84 Please maintain visual arts education. May 21, 2013 5:14 PM

85 One area that really needs to be looked at is administration. Often teaching staffis cut while the number of administrators stays the same or increases. We needpeople who are in direct contact with students, not people sitting in an office.

May 21, 2013 4:44 PM

86 Things in this country are changing. Money is no longer "free". Everyone needsto tighten the belt and make things happen as if they were workers for the localunions. And in the nicest possible way - have a great year.

May 21, 2013 4:31 PM

87 i do not believe we should continue to support a library with tax money May 21, 2013 4:18 PM

88 Your job is not easy-thank you for your investment in our children and youth. May 21, 2013 2:58 PM

89 My oldest child never scored "low" enough to receive math help throughout her

schooling at Guilderland. We were forced to pay privately for tutors to get herthrough math courses from elementary, middle and high school. She also wasnot guided properly by the guidance department to help choose an appropriatecollege based on her needs. Thankfully my youngest child is not as "needy" asmy older child but still feel that unless you are "exceptional" as a student or"troubled" as a student the kids in the middle are sometimes lost and their needsare not being addressed. I am thankful that both of my children will be out of theschool district.

May 21, 2013 1:19 PM



34/56


90 We need to start cutting the real fat from the budget; administration. Noadministartor should ever be paid more than a teacher and no superintendentshould ever be paid triple what a teacher makes. We should force an immediate20-40 percent cut across the board on all administrator salaries and then further

cut at least 5 administrators before we cut anymore teachers. This is a schooldistrict, not a corporation. Also, shared decision making should be fully re-implemented and the nonsense sessions that the district conducts to gaugepublic opinion should be binding, not PR fluff.

May 21, 2013 11:38 AM

91 thank you guilderland, great job with our kids! May 21, 2013 9:44 AM

92 We need to do whatever it takes as a community to continue to fight to restorefunding to public education. RTTT unfunded mandates need to be gone, as wellas, the GEA. We must come together as a community to do better for ourstudents.

May 21, 2013 9:41 AM

93 While I do support education I do NOT support the amount of time and moneybeing WASTED on excessive testing. Both my children graduated with honors

from Guilderland, went to good universities and earned masters degrees in theirfields. All this success without the constant testing that children are goingthrough now. It is WRONG and wasteful spending. I want my money going tochildren and not testing!

May 21, 2013 8:48 AM

94 thank you. May 21, 2013 7:17 AM

95 We have not been pleased with FMS. Neither of my children enjoy going to thatschool. I voted for the budget because it would be worse for them if I didn't.FMS should be more focused on the students and less on the adults that workthere. It is not a school that is supportive of a parent's involvement, in fact, theparent is made to feel like a pariah. Moreover, there should be more than onespot for tech valley and that process should be transparent. Why is it so

secretive and why can't my child go there when any one is able to go to thetechnical part of boces? I don't know that I will support the budget after my kidsare out because their experience at the middle school has been so negative.Hopefully, the high school will be better but there seems to be a culture ofbullying that comes from administration, so I am not sure it will be better.

Altamont Elementary is a great school with a great administrator.

May 21, 2013 7:12 AM



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36/56

How did you vote on the proposed 2013-14 budget today?

At which elementary school are you voting today?

Altamont

Elementary

School

GuilderlandElementary

School

LynnwoodElementary

School

Pine BushElementary

School

WestmereElementary

School

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor79.1%

(72)

70.8%

(102)

73.3%

(33)

73.6%

(78)

77.8%

(147)

75.1%

(432)

No, opposed20.9%

(19)

29.2%

(42)

26.7%

(12)

26.4%

(28)

22.2%

(42)

24.9%

(143)

answered question 91 144 45 106 189 575

skipped question 12


In which town do you live?

Guilderland Bethlehem Knox

New

Scotland

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor74.7%

(383)

87.2%

(41)

50.0%

(2)

55.6%

(5)

75.2%

(431)

No, opposed25.3%

(130)

12.8%

(6)

50.0%

(2)

44.4%

(4)

24.8%

(142)

answered question 513 47 4 9 573

skipped question 12



37/56


How many years have you been a district

resident?

0-10 11-20 20+Response

Totals

Yes, in favor82.8%

(106)

79.0%

(128)

69.9%

(197)

75.3%

(431)

No, opposed17.2%

(22)

21.0%

(34)

30.1%

(85)

24.7%

(141)

answered question 128 162 282 572

skipped question 11


Are you an employee of the school district?

Yes No ResponseTotals

Yes, in favor92.7%

(38)

74.0%

(393)

75.3%

(431)

No, opposed7.3%

(3)

26.0%

(138)

24.7%

(141)

answered question 41 531 572

skipped question 11



38/56


Do you currently have children attending

Guilderland Schools?

Yes, I have children

currently attending

Guilderland

No, I do not have

children currently

attending Guilderland

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor83.6%

(183)

70.3%

(248)

75.3%

(431)

No, opposed16.4%

(36)

29.7%

(105)

24.7%

(141)


skipped question 11


If yes, what level(s) of school do they attend?

Grades K-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12Response

Totals

Yes, in favor85.7%

(108)

86.5%

(64)

84.4%

(76)

84.2%

(181)

No, opposed14.3%

(18)

13.5%

(10)

15.6%

(14)

15.8%

(34)


skipped question 2



39/56


If no, did your children ever attend


Yes, my children

attended Guilderland

schools in the past.

No, my children have

never attended

Guilderland schools.

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor73.4%

(105)

68.5%

(37)

72.1%

(142)

No, opposed26.6%

(38)

31.5%

(17)

27.9%

(55)


skipped question 2


If no, will your children attend Guilderland

Schools when they are older?

Yes, my children will

attend Guilderland

schools in the future.

No, my children will not

attend Guilderland

schools in the future.

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor92.9%

(13)

55.6%

(30)

63.2%

(43)

No, opposed7.1%

(1)

44.4%

(24)

36.8%

(25)


skipped question 0



40/56


What age category pertains to you?

18-30 31-50 51-64 65+ ResponseTotals

Yes, in favor95.0%

(19)

80.4%

(160)

74.9%

(146)

68.0%

(104)

75.7%

(429)

No, opposed5.0%

(1)

19.6%

(39)

25.1%

(49)

32.0%

(49)

24.3%

(138)


skipped question 10


Do you feel that you had adequate information

about the proposed budget?

Yes

No

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor79.7%

(381)

41.5%

(27)

75.1%

(408)

No, opposed20.3%

(97)

58.5%

(38)

24.9%

(135)


skipped question 9



41/56


Where did you get information about the 2013-14

proposed budget? (Check all that apply)

District

newsletters

School

newsletters

District

Web

site

District

Facebook

page

District

Twitter

page

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor77.6%

(298)

76.5%

(101)

87.9%

(123)

92.9%

(13)

100.0%

(2)

77.5%

(341)

No, opposed22.4%

(86)

23.5%

(31)

12.1%

(17)

7.1%

(1)

0.0%

(0)

22.5%

(99)


skipped question 4




School

News

Notifier

(SNN)

Board of

Education

meetings

Public

budget

meetings

Cable

Channel

16/18

District

staff

members

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor90.1%

(100)

84.2%

(64)

77.5%

(31)

66.7%

(28)

91.4%

(53)

85.5%

(177)

No, opposed9.9%

(11)

15.8%

(12)

22.5%

(9)

33.3%

(14)

8.6%

(5)

14.5%

(30)


skipped question 3



42/56




PTA

meetingsFriends/neighbors

Local

newspapers

Other

(please

specify)

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor95.2%

(20)

78.0%

(46)

77.4%

(127)

73.9%

(17)

77.1%

(175)

No, opposed4.8%

(1)

22.0%

(13)

22.6%

(37)

26.1%

(6)

22.9%

(52)


skipped question 2


How did you vote on the bus and equipment

proposition?

Yes on proposition No on propositionResponse

Totals

Yes, in favor95.6%

(387)

23.7%

(37)

75.6%

(424)

No, opposed4.4%

(18)

76.3%

(119)

24.4%

(137)


skipped question 2



43/56


Knowing that the education funding crisis is

likely to continue, would you be willing to

support a budget that exceeds the district's tax

levy limit if it meant fewer cuts to programs

and services for students?

Yes No UnsureResponse

Totals

Yes, in favor96.6%

(283)

28.9%

(44)

82.1%

(96)

75.3%

(423)

No, opposed3.4%

(10)

71.1%

(108)

17.9%

(21)

24.7%

(139)


skipped question 6


How have you typically voted on the school

budget in the past?

I typically

vote yes.

I typically

vote no.

I have not voted in

the past.

Response

Totals

Yes, in favor88.0%

(410)

6.8%

(5)

68.2%

(15)

76.5%

(430)

No, opposed12.0%

(56)

93.2%

(69)

31.8%

(7)

23.5%

(132)


skipped question 3



44/56

Cross-Tabulation:

Bus and equipment proposition approval rates for

select answer choices

Based on respondents answers to select questions,

what percentage voted yes and what percentage voted no

on the bus and equipment proposition?



45/56

How did you vote on the bus and equipment proposition?

How many years have you been a district

resident?

0-10 11-20 20+Response

Totals

Yes on proposition80.5%

(103)

76.4%

(123)

65.4%

(178)

72.0%

(404)

No on proposition19.5%

(25)

23.6%

(38)

34.6%

(94)

28.0%

(157)


skipped question 22



18-30 31-50 51-64 65+ ResponseTotals


(19)

80.2%

(158)

69.8%

(134)

61.9%

(91)

72.3%

(402)


(1)

19.8%

(39)

30.2%

(58)

38.1%

(56)

27.7%

(154)


skipped question 21



46/56


Do you currently have children attending


Yes, I have children

currently attending

Guilderland

No, I do not have

children currently

attending Guilderland

Response

Totals


(182)

64.5%

(222)

72.0%

(404)


(35)

35.5%

(122)

28.0%

(157)


skipped question 22



47/56

Cross-Tabulation:

How respondents voted (yes/no)

cross-tabulated with each question

Of those who voted yes or no, what percentage

fell into each voter category?



48/56

At which elementary school are you voting today?

How did you vote on the proposed 2013-14

budget today?

Yes, in favor No, opposedResponse

Totals

Altamont Elementary School16.7%

(72)

13.3%

(19)

15.8%

(91)

Guilderland Elementary School23.6%

(102)

29.4%

(42)

25.0%

(144)

Lynnwood Elementary School7.6%

(33)

8.4%

(12)

7.8%

(45)

Pine Bush Elementary School18.1%

(78)

19.6%

(28)

18.4%

(106)

Westmere Elementary School34.0%

(147)

29.4%

(42)

32.9%

(189)


skipped question 0



49/56

In which town do you live?


budget today?


Totals

Guilderland88.9%

(383)

91.5%

(130)

89.5%

(513)

Bethlehem9.5%

(41)

4.2%

(6)

8.2%

(47)

Knox0.5%

(2)

1.4%

(2)

0.7%

(4)

New Scotland1.2%

(5)

2.8%

(4)

1.6%

(9)


skipped question 2

How many years have you been a district resident?


budget today?


Totals

0-1024.6%

(106)

15.6%

(22)

22.4%

(128)

11-2029.7%

(128)

24.1%

(34)

28.3%

(162)

20+45.7%

(197)

60.3%

(85)

49.3%

(282)


skipped question 3



50/56

Are you an employee of the school district?


budget today?


Totals

Yes8.8%

(38)

2.1%

(3)

7.2%

(41)

No91.2%

(393)

97.9%

(138)

92.8%

(531)


skipped question 3

Do you currently have children attending Guilderland Schools?


budget today?

Yes, in favor No, opposed ResponseTotals

Yes, I have children currently attending Guilderland42.5%

(183)

25.5%

(36)

38.3%

(219)

No, I do not have children currently attending

Guilderland

57.5%

(248)

74.5%

(105)

61.7%

(353)


skipped question 3



51/56

If yes, what level(s) of school do they attend?


budget today?


Totals

Grades K-559.7%

(108)

52.9%

(18)

58.6%

(126)

Grades 6-835.4%

(64)

29.4%

(10)

34.4%

(74)

Grades 9-1242.0%

(76)

41.2%

(14)

41.9%

(90)


skipped question 4

If no, did your children ever attend Guilderland Schools?


budget today?


Totals

Yes, my children attended Guilderland schools in the

past.

73.9%

(105)

69.1%

(38)

72.6%

(143)

No, my children have never attended Guilderland

schools.

26.1%

(37)

30.9%

(17)

27.4%

(54)





52/56

If no, will your children attend Guilderland Schools when they are older?


budget today?


Totals

Yes, my children will attend Guilderland schools in the

future.

30.2%

(13)

4.0%

(1)

20.6%

(14)

No, my children will not attend Guilderland schools in

the future.

69.8%

(30)

96.0%

(24)

79.4%

(54)





budget today?

Yes, in favor No, opposed ResponseTotals

18-304.4%

(19)

0.7%

(1)

3.5%

(20)

31-5037.3%

(160)

28.3%

(39)

35.1%

(199)

51-6434.0%

(146)

35.5%

(49)

34.4%

(195)

65+24.2%

(104)

35.5%

(49)

27.0%

(153)


skipped question 8



53/56

Do you feel that you had adequate information about the proposed budget?


budget today?


Totals

Yes93.4%

(381)

71.9%

(97)

88.0%

(478)

No6.6%

(27)

28.1%

(38)

12.0%

(65)


skipped question 32



54/56

Where did you get information about the 2013-14 proposed budget? (Check all that

apply)


budget today?


Totals

District newsletters76.0%

(298)

69.4%

(86)

74.4%

(384)

School newsletters25.8%

(101)

25.0%

(31)

25.6%

(132)

District Web site31.4%

(123)

13.7%

(17)

27.1%

(140)

District Facebook page3.3%

(13)

0.8%

(1)

2.7%

(14)

District Twitter page0.5%

(2)

0.0%

(0)

0.4%

(2)

School News Notifier (SNN)25.5%

(100)

8.9%

(11)

21.5%

(111)

Board of Education meetings16.3%

(64)

9.7%

(12)

14.7%

(76)

Public budget meetings7.9%

(31)

7.3%

(9)

7.8%

(40)

Cable Channel 16/187.1%

(28)

11.3%

(14)

8.1%

(42)

PTA meetings 5.1%(20)

0.8%(1)

4.1%(21)

District staff members13.5%

(53)

4.0%

(5)

11.2%

(58)

Friends/neighbors11.7%

(46)

10.5%

(13)

11.4%

(59)

Local newspapers32.4%

(127)

29.8%

(37)

31.8%

(164)



55/56

Other (please specify)17 replies

(4.3%)

6 replies

(4.8%)

4.5%

(23)


skipped question 59



budget today?


Totals


(387)

13.1%

(18)

72.2%

(405)


(37)

86.9%

(119)

27.8%

(156)


skipped question 14



56/56

Knowing that the education funding crisis is likely to continue, would you be willing to

support a budget that exceeds the district's tax levy limit if it meant fewer cuts to

programs and services for students?


budget today?


Totals

Yes66.9%

(283)

7.2%

(10)

52.1%

(293)

No10.4%

(44)

77.7%

(108)

27.0%

(152)

Unsure22.7%

(96)

15.1%

(21)

20.8%

(117)


skipped question 13

How have you typically voted on the school budget in the past?


budget today?


Totals

I typically vote yes.95.3%

(410)

42.4%

(56)

82.9%

(466)

I typically vote no.1.2%

(5)

52.3%

(69)

13.2%

(74)


Documents

GCSD 2013 School Budget Vote Exit Survey Report