Charles City School Board Gets Report on Failed ‘23 CCHS Bond Referendum Survey

Over 600 stakeholders in the Charles City School District have weighed in on a survey asking for input on the $28.5 million bond referendum that failed to pass in November 2023.

Funding from the bond would have paid for sweeping improvements to a Charles City High School building that hasn’t had any major work done to it since it was built in 1960, with about a third-of the money targeted for a performing arts auditorium. However, the measure fell well short of the 60% supermajority YES votes required for approval, with 58% of votes against the bond and only 42% in favor. 

Last month, the School Board hired FEH Design to put a new bond referendum before voters this November. As part of the preparation, a survey was conducted asking for stakeholders’ opinions on why they didn’t vote in favor of and/or why they felt the ‘23 bond referendum failed to pass.

Monday (04.14) night, FEH’s Matt Basye recapped some initial feedback from that survey in regards to what stakeholders felt were priority issues.

Last month, the School Board also voted to issue $4 million in infrastructure sales, services and use tax revenue bonds to pay for improvements at the High School, including HVAC, electrical and plumbing upgrades. Basye says survey results support that decision.

Basye said that will allow the district to “lower the ask” for a bond referendum, though no dollar amount has been established to this point.