Just when I was wondering whatever happened with the results of the survey I mailed in the fall, I got my answer. Page 3 of Board packet for January 14 meeting. I am hoping that at some time the actual results will be posted on the D41 web site, much like the Unicom survey results were posted pre-referendum and the prior survey results likewise were posted.

Some interesting highlights from Julie Worthen's report:

Students in grades 4-8 took the survey during class time (91-94% response); staff members took an online survey (86% response) and parents received a mailed survey (22% response rate). Based upon these response rates, Harris (or Julie) conclude that "stakeholder satisfaction with District 41 overall is strong in most areas as compared to the Harris national database." Now, I no statistician, but I'm not sure how to compare 22% parent response with the captive audience in the 4-8 grades.

Buried in the middle of the page comes this revelation: "The only area identified as a serious issue has to do with the District's budgeting process and budget communication. The results showed that satisfaction levels among parents were lower than the national database." (emphasis added)

While I would like to see the complete data from the surveys, I think we could have saved the $10,500 spent for this round of surveys, especially in light of the "Next Steps" suggestions. "More data may be needed in some areas to discover the reasons for stakeholder viewpoints; this could be obtained from focus groups, mini-surveys or by other methods."

From what I can discern, this Harris School Poll is one of many planned through 2016, with a community survey from either Unicom ($17,500) or Harris ($25,000) possible for 2008.

Maybe we can hold the 4-8 grade focus groups in the mobiles!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ohma,

That's "the only area", huh?
Kinda like I really like my boat's new paint job, my only complaint is that gaping hole in the bottom!
Man, you couldn't write fiction this good!