204 e-News: Community Survey Results

[doctorwho]

53 % think the communications is excellent - how sad that so many think they are getting all they need..which is why most have no idea how their money is being spent - how much we owe- why decisions were made etc.. (in a related survey 53% also believe the earth is flat )

I wonder what the number would be removing the PAC - PTSA votes ?
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From:
"School District 204" <[e-mail]>

To:
Doctorwho

Date:
01/25/2010 08:00 PM

Subject:
204 e-News: Community Survey Results



Dear Indian Prairie Community,

A critical part of education is assessment. Teachers are always gathering information to determine if student progress has been made. The data is essential to help chart a course for student success. As a district, it is important to assess if we are best serving our community. The district recently conducted a random sample phone survey to help us with this assessment.

At Monday night's board of education meeting, Dr. Brad Senden from the Center for Community Opinion presented the results of the survey. The last time we surveyed our community was in 2005, and the majority of the questions we asked this time were the same so we could chart our progress.

I'm happy to report to you the community gave the district high marks in several key areas. When asked what grade you would give the schools in Indian Prairie, 87 percent responded they would give an "A" or "B". In 2005, only 76 percent of the community gave us similar grades.

We also saw a significant increase in an area that I've identified as a top priority -- communications. When asked to rate the job we do keeping the community informed, one out of two community members (53 percent) said we do an "excellent" or "above average" job. In 2005, only 35 percent gave this response.

The community also gave favorable grades to our facilities, financial management, and ability to meet the educational needs of our students.

We also used the survey as an opportunity to find out how the community felt about adding air conditioning to the elementary schools. We learned that 45 percent supported and 53 percent opposed the idea. Our board has not proposed adding air conditioning, but the discussion surfaces from time to time, especially when we have warm weather at the start of the school year. It's helpful for the board to have this information should they consider this option in the future.

Although the survey data is positive, we will continue to work on improving key areas. We plan to use the information provided as a guide to help us reach our community and best serve its needs.

I invite you to review the complete survey presentation from Monday night's board meeting. The information is on the district's website at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Documents/0910/CommunitySurveyResults01.25.10.pdf

Sincerely,

Kathy Birkett
Superintendent




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School District 204
www.ipsd.org
780 Shoreline Drive
Aurora, IL 60504
USA

[Arch]

Hell, it worked last time to massage the community that they'll try it again. People also had more coin in their pockets last time too...

Funny that some things didn't add up to 100% in their 'results' either.

400 people out of a district this big is hardly anything to call 'scientific' or even representative.

I'm sure some lapdogs will love to point to it and say "See, we're just one big happy district! Everything's great and chipper!"

[refbasics]

Jan 26, 2010 14:22:28 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

53 % think the communications is excellent - how sad that so many think they are getting all they need..which is why most have no idea how their money is being spent - how much we owe- why decisions were made etc.. (in a related survey 53% also believe the earth is flat )

I wonder what the number would be removing the PAC - PTSA votes ?
----------------------------------------------------------



From:
"School District 204" <[e-mail]>

To:
Doctorwho

Date:
01/25/2010 08:00 PM

Subject:
204 e-News: Community Survey Results



Dear Indian Prairie Community,

A critical part of education is assessment. Teachers are always gathering information to determine if student progress has been made. The data is essential to help chart a course for student success. As a district, it is important to assess if we are best serving our community. The district recently conducted a random sample phone survey to help us with this assessment.

At Monday night's board of education meeting, Dr. Brad Senden from the Center for Community Opinion presented the results of the survey. The last time we surveyed our community was in 2005, and the majority of the questions we asked this time were the same so we could chart our progress.

I'm happy to report to you the community gave the district high marks in several key areas. When asked what grade you would give the schools in Indian Prairie, 87 percent responded they would give an "A" or "B". In 2005, only 76 percent of the community gave us similar grades.

We also saw a significant increase in an area that I've identified as a top priority -- communications. When asked to rate the job we do keeping the community informed, one out of two community members (53 percent) said we do an "excellent" or "above average" job. In 2005, only 35 percent gave this response.

The community also gave favorable grades to our facilities, financial management, and ability to meet the educational needs of our students.

We also used the survey as an opportunity to find out how the community felt about adding air conditioning to the elementary schools. We learned that 45 percent supported and 53 percent opposed the idea. Our board has not proposed adding air conditioning, but the discussion surfaces from time to time, especially when we have warm weather at the start of the school year. It's helpful for the board to have this information should they consider this option in the future.

Although the survey data is positive, we will continue to work on improving key areas. We plan to use the information provided as a guide to help us reach our community and best serve its needs.

I invite you to review the complete survey presentation from Monday night's board meeting. The information is on the district's website at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Documents/0910/CommunitySurveyResults01.25.10.pdf

Sincerely,

Kathy Birkett
Superintendent




----------------------------------------------------------------------------

School District 204
www.ipsd.org
780 Shoreline Drive
Aurora, IL 60504
USA

-------------------------------------
53% of 400 people think communications are excellent or above average... if this was a test.. that would be an F minus

[casey]

I definitely think that if they surveyed a representative group of EDUCATED/KNOWLEDGEABLE persons in our district, they would find a failing grade. As you've pointed out 53% of 400 is hardly representative. No one I've talked to is happy with the district right now.

Why did we need to spend taxpayer money to find out such ridiculous information. Oh yeah, so we can stand up and promote the fact that the majority (87%) of the district is happy enough to give the district a grade of an A or B. I'm not buying it. Let's just hope when they try to put a referendum out there next time that no one else is buying it.

[researching]

Jan 26, 2010 17:48:14 GMT -6 casey said:

I definitely think that if they surveyed a representative group of EDUCATED/KNOWLEDGEABLE persons in our district, they would find a failing grade. As you've pointed out 53% of 400 is hardly representative. No one I've talked to is happy with the district right now.

Why did we need to spend taxpayer money to find out such ridiculous information. Oh yeah, so we can stand up and promote the fact that the majority (87%) of the district is happy enough to give the district a grade of an A or B. I'm not buying it. Let's just hope when they try to put a referendum out there next time that no one else is buying it.

That 53% of 400 people figure is meaningly. Seriously? They could go to ONE neighborhood to take that poll. Even probably polling 400 people they thought would have a favorable opinion they still only got 53%.

[macrockett]

I reposted my comments from the other article on FOIA:

Yes Doc. Had to reach for the pepto it made me so sick. My first thought was how can you evaluate something you know nothing about.

How many people have we seen at Board meetings? How would anyone know anything more than what they are told unless they investigate, FOIA, etc.?

Many of them go to the annual event at the start of the new year, but beyond that I would imagine they know little to zip about the financials and all the other crap.

Do they know that the Board spent 17k or so on this survey? Do they know the Board spent thousands to hire a consultant to advise in on the bus contract? And the $60k to advise it on Race to the Top Funds. Those and other consulting contracts, yet not a dime on a $150m school to advise it on assessing the proper capacity needs or how to satisfy those needs.

Did they know the Board authorized the early issuance of the High School Bonds way in advance of need? Even before the court date was set for the condemnation? That those funds accrued interest to the tune of $17 million that was used to plug the budget gap on MVHS while their tax bills have been and will be larger as a result of the additional interest expense?

Do they know that before Eola was presented at the January 2008 Board meeting as the alternative site of the new HS that Metzger and Daeschner had already entered into a MOU to purchase the land 2 months earlier?

Do they know that the District was offered the 248th street land for $12 million cash before they closed on Eola?

Oh, do they know that enrollment in March 08 told them that they didn't even need a high school?


As far as communications goes, I just had to laugh.

As you may or may not know, they are required by law to post the audited financial statements on the web site. The fiscal year ends in June so they have had 7 months. Lasts years are still there, posted around 12/12/08.

In addition, as the FOIA article in the Sun says, they are supposed to post that information as well on the site. Not there.

Last post of MVHS budget information was 6/1/09.

Have you seen the projected cost savings from the Financial Committee? Of course not. Yet other school districts take great pains to provide extensive information. I've posted some of them.

Where is the December PMA financial review for this year on the home page of the web site? You have to dig into the Board meeting info to get it. Last year I FOIA'd and disseminated it in February 2009.

It just goes on and on...