Residents now know when the Austin Public School board could decide whether to pursue building a new school.

Board members received the time table they asked for Monday concerning a decision on a new school for fifth and sixth-graders, which school officials say will stem increasing enrollment issues. Members may schedule an extra meeting on June 6 to discuss possible sites where a new school could be built, or where a building could be purchased.

Administrators are calling on the board to make a decision by June 14 under the time table. District officials hope to submit the proposal to the Minnesota Department of Education then so MDE officials can comment on the board’s decided solution. By submitting it in June, district officials can have MDE officials review and comment on the plan before it goes to a bond referendum.

If board members approve the proposal, which would include renovations to Woodson Kindergarten Center, a bond referendum would be placed on the ballot in the upcoming election this November.

Thus far, public opinion appears to support district officials in their initiative. There is some dissenting opinion, however. Gene Novak spoke as a delegate to the board Monday, telling them not building a school would be better for the community, so taxes wouldn’t be raised in a tough economy.

“You guys need to look at things and you need to look out for us,” Novak said.

While Novak charged the board had put together a community task force consisting of affluent residents, superintendent David Krenz countered that the task force was open to all residents of any economic class. District officials asked for public participation in December, and about 30 community members made up the task force.

“The public has had a tremendous amount of input,” Krenz said.

It seems Daily Herald readers would support building a new school. Last month, out of 67 respondents, 40 viewers said they would support the district’s efforts to build a new school on the Daily Herald web site. In a similar poll, out of 22 viewers, 16 said they would supported the district on the Daily Herald Facebook page.

Respondents had similar reactions last week. Out of 176 respondents, 92 viewers supported a new school for fifth and sixth-graders while 77 did not, with seven viewers not sure yet on the Herald web site. On Facebook, out of 25 viewers 16 said the district should build a new school, while four voted against, one person said to raise taxes, one asked how the district would pay for the building and a final respondent said they didn’t know.

Stotts said he hasn’t had anyone contact him with a negative viewpoint yet, only people who would give their input on where a new school should be put. Of the community groups Stotts has spoken to, including City Council, Stotts said he’s heard positive feedback from each of his talks.