Donegal School District must reach out to a greater number of residents if officials intend to see success with a second referendum slated for November.

The advice was delivered by Thomas Grosh IV, 1844 Cloverleaf Road, to board members April 7, a week after the district invited the public to comment on how to proceed with a new referendum on building construction and repairs.

Board president Steve Cafrelli said results from 82 surveys returned from residents at the meeting showed support for a new high school and minimal renovations to the existing high school, which is proposed to be converted into a junior high school.

But many respondents did not support spending money for consultants to gauge how taxpayers might vote in the upcoming referendum.

"I was one of those foolish people that felt we should do more surveying at the meeting," Grosh said. "But there were only 85 people who were there."

Grosh said the number was small compared to the thousands who voted in January on a referendum to spend $114 million on improvements. The referendum was defeated by a 3-1 margin.

"I was one of those people, even with children in the school district, that voted against it," Grosh said.

He said a friend who homeschools his children voted in favor of the referendum due to the positive effect it would have on property values.

"He wanted to make sure the schools would be worthy of people he sold his home to," Grosh said.

Grosh said there were several reasons why people voted the way they did on the referendum and the district should learn what those reasons were if the next referendum is to succeed.

"Without further community understanding, your aren't going to get much with 85 people," he said. "I don't think this information is known, and, without it, I think going ahead you are in big trouble."

Board member John Coleman said the district got "beaten up" by taxpayers for spending the money they did for a special election.

He said polling would cost much more. "I can't imaging what the public would do once they found out we spent money for polling."

Grosh said there are people on the grassroots level involved with this issue and the district needs to utilize them to do the legwork and poll residents.

Keith Vogt, of 1225 Colebrook Road, Marietta, opposed using residents to conduct public opinion polls.

He said the district must use an independent entity to avoid any conflict of interest.

Vogt also cautioned district officials not to downsize or strip out too much from the project just to get the referendum passed.

"There may be wasted space that could be used more effectively, but just be careful in trying to get the dollar number down that we don't shoot ourselves in the foot," Vogt said.

He said, "If we get this fantastic $20 million (stripped down) high school, would we want it?"