School Survey Deadline Extended

— The deadline for a survey sent out by the Bentonville School District has been extended, district officials said Monday.

Superintendent Michael Poore said a postcard survey sent to households last week asked participants to respond by Monday. He said some households may not have received the postcard until Monday.

Poore suggested participants have the prepaid postcard sent back to the district by the end of the week.

The card asked those who voted in a millage increase election in June if they would approve a cheaper second high school option.

Mary Ley, district communications director, said nearly 10,000 cards were sent to school district patrons.

“We heard you say No,” The card reads. “However, we need to know what you will say Yes to.”

Participants were asked to circle one of three options. The first states voters will support a second high school at a reduced cost. The second states voters will not support a second high school, but would support an alternative solution. The third states voters will not support any solution that would raise taxes for construction.

A 6.7-mill increase was voted down for a second high school June 26. The $128 million package would have paid for a 2,000-student second high school with full athletic facilities in Centerton. It would also have covered upgrades districtwide for technology and heating and cooling.

Poore said community response is important to this survey and others to come.

“The board has a vision of hopefully going to voters in the fall of 2013,” Poore said. “We are really using these two months to frame what it is that we want to package.”

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