10/29/2026
The Chamber recently sent a two-question survey to our members regarding the Nov. 3 school referendum. Responses were submitted anonymously via JotForm.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦?
Yes: 20
No: 2
91% 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑌𝑒𝑠.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐢𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲, 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬?
Significant negative impact: 11
Some negative impact: 7
No impact: 2
Unsure: 2
81% 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑎 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑.
𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.
“A strong school that is financially supported by the community directly relates to a strong community that supports its local businesses.”
“The I/S School District is vital to our community and area, with limited employment opportunities, the school district HAS to be a drawing factor to live in our area. The I/S School District has always been strong and attractive and this needs to continue. Until our State Govt figures out the need for additional funding, unfortunately so much falls upon our property owners. If our school falters, so will our property values, so this in an investment in our school to support our property investments.”
“If the referendum doesn't pass, it will be bad for the future of our community.”
“A lot of my students go to school in Iola. If the school closes down I will lose students (as customers).”
“Quality schools attract caring families to the district. It is important that we keep our school academic levels at or above where they currently are. This is done by attracting good teachers to a good school district.”
“Without a strong school system a small town is destined to fade, which will have a negative impact on every business in Iola-Scandinavia.”
“Long-term negative impact. Lower quality schools may further shrink our community. Also, we may lose local capability (entrepreneurs, plumbers, HVAC technicians, auto-repair technicians, accountants, bankers, attorneys, opticians, physical therapists, nurses, caretakers, administrators, office support, and more). A shrinking community will continue to lose services. Since my time here, we have lost a hardware store, a liquor store, our newspaper, a dentist, a nursing home, two publishers, a Subway, the Electric Cooperative (and appliance store), one gas station, a motel, one insurance company, and a pharmacist.”
“Having a good school is an asset for the community. It contributes to families wanting to live here. Many but not all support local businesses.”
“Strong community support for a financially strong school equates to a strong community that supports its local businesses.”
𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 from the responses from our Chamber members that voting YES on the referendum is a positive vote for the school, our businesses, and our communities.
The I-S School District estimates the proposed referendum would increase school property taxes by about $25 per year for every $100,000 of property value. For a $300,000 property, that’s approximately $75 per year for the next 4 years - about 20 cents per day.
We encourage district citizens to vote for all of the candidates and referendums on Nov. 3. We encourage you to vote YES on the school referendum.
It’s for the students – and our communities!
Iola-Scandinavia Chamber of Commerce
