More than 750 people have filled out an online survey by the Butler Residents for Quality Schools regarding the district’s building consolidation plans.

That community group has been trying to work with the district to maintain a kindergarten through 6th grade community school model.

The 15-question survey has been posted on the group’s website, butlerk6.com, since late October. The survey is still open.

Nina Teff of Renfrew, who is a Quality Schools member and a mother of three who has been involved with the group’s survey, spoke about the results to Butler School Board members at Monday night’s meeting.

About “75 to 85 percent of people doing the survey are parents of kids in the district now, or grandparents, or parents whose kids will go to the district,” Teff said. “Over 80 percent of the respondents say they want K through 6.”

Consultant Thomas & Williamson Program Management has offered three consolidation plans, which include closing six or seven of the 11 elementary schools and reconfiguring grades into a K through 3 or 4, 4 or 5 through 6, 7 through 9 and 10 through 12 model.

The survey also asked questions about elementary school locations, taxes, use of the junior high as an intermediate elementary school, and students’ mode of transportation.

As of Wednesday, 53 survey takers identified themselves as district teachers, and 77 people were identified as residents with no children in the district.

More than half of the respondents said they believe school board members already have made their decision regarding consolidation, and responses were split about 50/50 about whether the district has made clear the primary purpose of the consolidation.

“The purpose is to maximize the use of all space and try to improve the educational program by becoming a more unified district,” one survey taker commented.

Another said it’s to “save money, because of their misuse.”

About 55 percent said they would support tax hikes if the kindergarten through 6th grade community school model were maintained.

A majority of survey takers said they’d consider sending their children elsewhere, such as a private school or charter school, if several community schools closed, and major grade configurations among primary-age students take place.

Parents, residents and educators voiced their general concerns as part of their responses.

“As a retired educator (in another district), a BHS graduate, the mother of a BHS graduate, and a taxpayer, I am truly disheartened at the shortsightedness of this school board. Since money seems to be the primary issue, I say, look elsewhere,” one said.

“I am also a teacher and am concerned about teaching such large classes and also still having a job after the reconfiguration. I am a graduate of BASD and I remember being moved to Lyndora for 4-6th grades. It was a scary time moving into that big school at that age. Lyndora does not even compare to the size of the (junior high school),” said another comment.

Some parents said they moved here for their community school and the school district.

“Anything other than my child staying in one of the local schools will not be acceptable. I built my home with the school in mind as part of that decision. If the board decides to intervene in that process, I will pull them from BASD and look at other options,” one survey taker said.

Some question why educational programs aren’t considered more.

“I personally feel this study not only needs to focus on operational costs, but show the educational opportunities. So far everyone is talking about money saved, but I haven’t heard anyone talk about how any of these configurations will benefit our kids,” a respondent said.

Other comments were in support of keeping the junior high open, and that education would be better with grade reconfigurations.

An educator outside the district said: “I see great value in the k-3 model. I currently am a teacher in a k-3 building and it was k-5 before the 4-6 building opened. We have seen a decrease in behavior concerns, the environment is more early childhood based and we are able to offer more to the children.”

A Butler parent whose children attended Summit Elementary School said, “The school is geared to the average achieving child, period. If everything remains the same we will be putting our youngest child in private school. In our opinion the school district will have more to offer if it consolidates.”

Quality Schools has laid out an alternative consolidation plan to the three recommended plans made by the district’s consulting firm.

Quality Schools favors closing the junior high school and three elementary schools based on geographic area — one in the city, and one each in the western and eastern sides of the district.

The three recommended plans the school board has from the consultant firm of Thomas & Williamson would close six or seven elementary schools and reconfigure grades.

The changes are supposed to make more efficient use of the school buildings, which have an average occupancy rate of 55 percent.

Each of the three recommended plans would close the Broad Street, Center Avenue, Clearfield, Emily Brittain, Meridian, and Oakland elementary schools, while one also would close Summit. Two plans move fourth, fifth and sixth graders to the junior high school, while one would keep fourth graders at the elementary school level.

Under each plan seventh, eighth and ninth graders would attend the intermediate high school and sophomores, juniors and seniors would attend the high school.

There are 11 elementary schools among the 14 buildings in the district.

The district also has posted a 30-question consolidation survey at basdk12.org/domain/1166 on the Master Plan Facilities Study page. Survey takers will be able to answer questions there until Nov. 21.