The Myths and Facts on the Referendum

The Myths and Facts on the Referendum

To the Editor:

There seems to be a lot of information floating around these days on the upcoming West Fargo school referendum. After attending the public information meeting on April 27th, I decided to do my own research on a few of the myths surrounding the proposal.

MYTH: The school board paid the demographer, RSP and Associates, to produce overinflated enrollment numbers.
FACT:  Google “RSP and Associates” and you will find an accuracy rating of 98% in predicting enrollments in schools nationwide. They predicted enrollment in Lincoln County, Mo. with 99.8% accuracy. They were chosen because of their accuracy rating and other school district recommendations.

MYTH: The future second elementary included in the proposal provides a blank check for building another school.
FACT: Each elementary school has a capacity of 550 students. If the enrollment numbers stay on track, the second elementary would be needed for the 2014-15 school year. The ballot would ask for the authority for the second elementary school, but the bonds would not be sold, nor would taxes be levied to repay that amount, until construction actually occurs. The estimated cost that would be deferred is $11 million.

MYTH:  West Fargo is building extravagant schools with little regard to price.
FACT: I comparison-shopped online, and found that the price per square foot of recently constructed school buildings in West Fargo is significantly less than those constructed around the nation as well as nearby (Cheney in WF cost $76.25/sq ft, Horizon in Moorhead cost $106.37/sq ft). This is on the school district’s website, but can be substantiated by newspaper reports around the time of construction.

I hope you will consider voting “yes” on May 24th. More information can also be found at wfvoice.org and west-fargo.k12.nd.us/district/news/1011/bond/.

Becky Dockter
West Fargo resident