Dear Parents and Community Members:

Here are the tabulations for the questions and our responses to the concerns that you completed for us during Parent Appreciation Night, on August 3, 2006.

1-    I am satisfied that administration listens to my concerns or complaints.

YES- 32

NO- 15

Response:  The quality of your experience when voicing a concern or complaint to the administration is very important to us.  We have a strong commitment to making this a positive experience for all parties and will work toward that goal.  If you are not satisfied that you are being served please do not hesitate to take action at the next level.  The chain of command is Principal, Superintendent, and then School Board.  Hopefully the forms we have made available to you on the website and in the student handbooks will be of some help in this regard.  I know that parents often fear retaliation if they are brave enough to come forward about a problem.  Please trust us to handle these matters in a professional manner, if we do otherwise do not hesitate to report such behavior to the next level.

2-    I am satisfied that my child is safe at school.

YES- 43

NO- 7

Response:  The safety of your child, from the time you release them to us until we return them to you, is something that we take very seriously.  The concerns about bullying require your cooperation in reporting these incidents.  When we receive reports of any type of misconduct we investigate and act quickly.  Unless a report is made we can not know that the problem exists.  We are installing a new surveillance system in the elementary, middle school, and high school.  This system will be a valuable tool for helping us to monitor behavior and make adjustments that will further insure your child’s safety.  I have contacted the Border Patrol and local law enforcement officials with regards to the high speed chases at any time that our students are being transported or may be exposed to danger from those sources.

3-    I am satisfied with the information my child brings home from school concerning his/her academic progress.

YES- 42

NO- 4

Response:  This year for both progress reports and report cards the amount of information you receive about your student’s academic progress will include comments that explain in more detail what your student has done to earn the grade shown on the report.  If you have concerns or need information that is not available on the report please do not hesitate to call the school office and arrange for the teacher to contact you and set up a time for a meeting.  In addition to the normal reports we will also be reporting to you and your student about the results of the short cycle assessments as they become available to us.

4-    I am satisfied that the school keeps me informed about activities.

YES- 40

NO- 9

Response:  We will encourage the teachers to post any and all upcoming activities at least one week prior to the actual event so that you can make plans to attend.  These will be posted on the website in the teacher’s folder.  When we are provided with the information we will also make the dates for these activities available on the school information menu which is accessible by phone at 548-2889.   We will make every effort to keep the website current so that you have the information you will need.

5-    I am satisfied that the school provides my child with access to up to date technology.

YES- 41

NO- 4

Response:  Many of you were very complimentary about the amount and quality of technology available to your student.  It is vitally important to the education of student’s today that we strive to maintain technology that will be similar to what they will have access to as they continue their education or go into the workplace.  Much of our funding for technology comes through Federal Funds designated as E-Rate.  The amount we receive is directly affected by the percentage of students we have that receive Free and Reduced Lunch so it is extremely important that we have every possible student application for the Free and Reduced Lunch program filled out completely and returned to the school.  Some of you had concerns about the quantity and quality of books in our libraries, each year we receive a small amount (this year it is less than $2000) to repair and/or replace the offerings in our libraries.  Our Accelerated Reading Program in the elementary and middle school has a lot of bearing on what books are currently available and on what books we will order in the future.  I will make a commitment to make funds available from the operational budget to help purchase more books for the libraries.

6-    I am satisfied with the way discipline is handled at my child’s school.

YES- 36

NO- 10

Response:  The comments on this question had a lot in common with the comments on question #2 about your child’s safety.  Both of the principals have a discipline matrix that is carefully followed to insure fair treatment in each incident.  At times it may seem that students are not being treated equally; this may be due to the fact that if the incident is the first occurrence for one student but the third time for another student then the consequences will not be the same.  There may also be a difference in treatment based on the magnitude or seriousness of the offence.  Please do not expect the teacher or administrator to give you the details of the punishment meted out to any student other than your own.  We can not, by law, reveal any information to you about any student other than your own.

7-    I am satisfied with the instructional strategies used to educate my child.

YES- 40

NO- 7

Response:  Teachers and students are both individuals and as such may respond in different ways to each other.  It is the teacher’s responsibility to find the best method to communicate the information that the student needs to be successful in their class.  This may mean that the teacher varies the instruction according to the purpose and setting in addition to the student’s need.  We wholeheartedly invite you to be involved in this process, only by asking questions and receiving answers or explanations can you feel confident that your child is receiving the best we have to give.  If you have concerns about “busy work” or your child not being challenged you need to visit with that teacher and help them to develop a plan that challenges and extends your student’s learning.

8-    I am satisfied that I am given opportunities to participate in my child’s education.

YES- 42

NO- 5

Response:  Throughout the comments we received in this survey were indications that there is a “favorites” list, and that these individuals received treatment different from what is expected.  It is very important to us that each student, parent, teacher, and community member feel that they are given equal treatment in every situation.  If you feel that you are being treated in an unfair manner please do not hesitate to ask for an explanation or clarification; if that result is not satisfactory the next step would be to bring the matter to the immediate supervisor of the person in question.

Responses to comments from the back of the surveys or from the

3 X 5 cards that were turned in.

“More active counseling for college classes available and for scholarships available”

Response:  One of the goals I would like to see realized is to start the process of planning for continuing the student’s education beyond high school.  I believe that when students and parents begin in the 7^th grade to set their goals for college or advanced training in a vocation it makes their selection of coursework in high school much more important.  We can provide activities such as workshops to help your student apply for scholarships, financial aid, and college application during Parent Nights for each grade level that can help you achieve the educational goals you and your student have established.  We will need your support; you can show us you are willing to participate by attending the Parent Conferences and expressing a desire to have these types of activities.

“No new school”

And “Why should we spend our limited resources to replace a good elementary building? …to keep 3 gyms in operation for less than 300 students?  How can you expect taxpayers to sit still for a 5 mill levy?”

And

“There are less expensive ways to accomplish safety than replacing buildings, what alternatives have been explored?  Why are we aiming for the Cadillac in construction when the Chevy will do?”

Response:  Don’t shoot the messenger.  The cold hard facts are that the Middle School is in dire need of a gymnasium, the Horseshoe is a burden on the operational budget, and both the Elementary and Middle School need to be upgraded to provide a safer and more efficient facility that will allow more dollars to be spent on direct instruction.  Last fall a Planning Committee was put together to have oversight on the planning of the project, investigate alternatives, and report to the School Board on their findings, the committee is made up of community members, students, parents, and school staff.  This committee meets on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month and is open to the public, the notice of the meeting is posted in the Post Office and in the School Administration Office.

“Why, if there only 6 applicants for a position, why not interview all 6 instead of just 3?”

Response:  Applications are taken for a position, all applications are considered, and then the applicants that the supervisor feels are the ones most suited for the positions are contacted and an interview is arranged.  If the position, or positions, is not filled from the candidates interviewed then the next most likely person is contacted for an interview.  This process is fair, efficient, and saves time for both the interviewers and the people being interviewed.

Comments of a personal nature were not responded to.

Parent Satisfaction Survey

Please answer the following questions.