USD 447 Cherryvale-Thayer schools will conduct a mail-out survey of patrons who voted in the November 6 election which failed a school bond question for facilities improvements by a vote of 704 to 795. School board members believe soliciting input from voters will assist in developing a facilities plan most voters will support. Superintendent Shelly Kiblinger urges every voter to complete a survey because the data is critical in putting together the right plan. While community forums will still be a part of the process, they need better data on what voters are thinking, and they hope to improve the bond development process.

The survey is only one page, front and back with multiple choice and several open-ended questions so people may write exactly what they think. Results will be compiled by a neutral third party and shared at the April 8 board meeting, then posted on the district's website and Facebook page. Kiblinger said the district has no guarantee the stawte will allow the district to run another bond election after this one in the near future.