Geauga Growth Partnership & Kent State University - Geauga Proposed Consolidation Study. Online Survey Report November, 2015

Transcription

1 Geauga Grwth Partnership & Kent State University - Geauga Prpsed Cnslidatin Study Online Survey Reprt Nvember, 2015

2 P a g e 2 Intrductin In cllabratin with the Geauga Grwth Partnership, Kent State University Geauga, Berkshire and Newbury Schl Districts, Burges & Burges Strategists develped and administered an annymus nline survey fr cmmunity members f the invlved Districts. The gal f the survey was t gather the cmmunity s input and perceptins fr a prpsed cnslidatin between the Berkshire and Newbury schl districts. The survey was distributed thrugh a public URL made available n bth schl district s websites, via , psted n scial media, published in the Geauga Maple Leaf and psted n their Facebk, and participants were encuraged t share the survey link with their netwrks. The survey was active frm September 28 t Octber 26. In ttal, we received 940 cmpleted respnses. T avid duplicatin, we srted survey respnses by IP address and eliminated three identical respnses. All participants pt-in t the nline survey, prducing a self-selected sample. It s likely that participants will have mre knwledge abut the details f a prpsed cnslidatin than the brader cmmunity. Executive Summary Of the 940 respnses, 55.8% were cmpleted by residents f the Berkshire Lcal Schl District and 35.3% frm the Newbury Lcal Schl District. The remaining 8.8% identified with ther districts including: Cardinal, Chardn, Kenstn, West Geauga, and thers. Clse t half f respndents, 49.5%, identified as a parent f a child(ren) enrlled in public schl, while 18.7% described themselves as a parent f a graduate. Only 2.3% and 1.2% f respndents described themselves as teachers r students, respectively. Overall, 74% f participants rated the quality f educatin their lcal schl district is prviding as either excellent r gd, while 20.5% said fair, and nly 5.2% said pr. When participants were asked abut declining enrllment in their schl district, 67.2% said they were either cncerned r very cncerned, and 31.5% were smewhat r nt at all cncerned. Thughts n the Prpsed Plan A strng majrity f respndents, 67.2% said the prpsed plan was a gd idea, while nly 17.2% said it was a bad idea, and 14.7% were unsure if it was a gd r bad idea, if the prpsed plan included a new, separate schl building n the KSU Geauga Campus t huse Newbury and Berkshire students in grade K-6, while K-6 students frm Ledgemnt wuld be hused in their existing schl. Frty-percent (40%) f respndents said it was a gd idea and nearly 30% said it was a bad idea, while 26% did nt knw. Based n what respndents currently knw, 60.6% either agree r strngly agree with the prpsed cnslidatin f bth schl districts. A breakdwn f the results are prvided belw:

3 P a g e 3 If the prpsed plan were t include ne new schl building structure fr grades 7-12 n the Kent State Geauga Campus, d yu think this is a gd idea r bad idea? What if the prpsed plan als included a new, separate schl building t huse Newbury and Berkshire students in grade K-6 n the Kent State Geauga Campus, while K-6 students frm Ledgemnt wuld be hused in their existing schl? Based n what respndents currently knw, mre than half f the participants agree with the prpsed cnslidatin. Nearly 61% said they either agree r strngly agree with the prpsed cnslidatin f bth schl districts.

4 P a g e 4 Ptential Benefits There was n statistical difference between schl districts when asked abut the ptential benefits f a prpsed cnslidatin. A vast majrity viewed the ptential benefits f a cnslidatin as smewhat r very imprtant. The benefits rated mst imprtant by participants include: expanded student prgrams, curses, and electives; perating cst efficiencies, and access t innvative prgramming using mdern technlgy. A breakdwn f the results are prvided belw:

5 P a g e 5 Ptential Cncerns A majrity f respndents, 69.3% either strngly agree r agree they prefer t see the lcal elementary schl remain in their cmmunity. Mre than half (58.3%) f respndents either strngly agree r agree they are cncerned abut teacher and staff reductins, yet nly 2.9% f participants identified as a teacher, suggesting that any discussin related t jbs cuts may cause cncern fr thers in the cmmunity as well. Public Supprt fr a Cnslidatin If asked fr apprval tday, 74.2% f participants said they wuld supprt a cnslidatin, while nly 24.8% were ppsed r strngly ppsed t supprting a cnslidatin. Additinally, participants were divided when asked if the cmmunity wuld apprve a bnd issue t pay fr half f the cnstructin csts, if the state were t pay fr the ther half f the csts fr a new cnslidated district. Nearly 40% f respndents said they were unsure whether the cmmunity wuld supprt a bnd issue fr a new cnslidated district, while 34.4% said the cmmunity wuld nt. Only 25.3% said their cmmunity wuld apprve paying fr half the csts f a new cnslidated district. Surces f Infrmatin Mre than half f Berkshire residents (53.52%) receive infrmatin abut the schls frm the district s website, while mst Newbury residents receive infrmatin abut their schls frm the lcal newspaper. Additinally, a greater number f Berkshire than Newbury residents are using scial media t btain their news and infrmatin abut the schls.

6 P a g e 6 Berkshire Lcal Schl District Findings Of the 525 ttal survey respndents frm the Berkshire Lcal Schl District, 60.6% described themselves as a parent f a child(ren) enrlled in public schl, fllwed by 15.8% wh said they were a parent f a graduate. Mre than half (55.4%) f respndents are between the ages f 35 t 55, and 58.5% are female. A strng majrity f participants said the Berkshire Lcal Schl District is prviding quality educatin. Nearly 85% rated the schls as either gd r excellent. Hwever, 56.4% f Berkshire respndents are either cncerned r very cncerned abut the issue f declining enrllment in their schl district, cmpared t the nearly 42% wh are smewhat r nt at all cncerned. Thughts n the Prpsed Plan A majrity, 63.2%, f Berkshire residents said a new schl building structure fr grades 7-12 n the Kent State Geauga Campus is a gd idea. While 20.8% said it was a bad idea, nly 14.9% are unsure if it is a gd r bad idea. On the ther hand, Berkshire residents are nearly split n whether it is a gd r bad idea t cnstruct a new, separate schl building t huse Newbury and Berkshire K-6 grade students n the KSU Geauga Campus, while K-6 students frm Ledgemnt wuld be hused in their existing schls. A breakdwn f the results are prvided belw: If the prpsed plan were t include ne new schl building structure fr grades 7-12 n the Kent State Geauga Campus, d yu think this is a gd idea r bad idea?

7 P a g e 7 What if the prpsed plan als included a new, separate schl building t huse Newbury and Berkshire students in grade K-6 n the Kent State Geauga Campus, while K-6 students frm Ledgemnt wuld be hused in their existing schl? Based n what respndents currently knw, mre than half f the participants agree with the prpsed cnslidatin. Clse t 54% said they either agree r strngly agree with the prpsed cnslidatin f bth schl districts, while nly 23.3% disagree r strngly disagree. Nearly a quarter d nt knw enugh t make a determinatin.

8 P a g e 8 Ptential Cncerns A large number f Berkshire participants, 81.3%, prefer t see the lcal elementary schl remain in their cmmunity, fllwed by 64.4% wh either strngly agree r agree they are cncerned abut teacher and staff reductins. Public Supprt fr a Cnslidatin If asked tday, a majrity f Berkshire residents, 68.8%, said they wuld supprt a cnslidatin, while 30% said they are ppsed r strngly ppsed t supprting a cnslidatin. When participants were asked whether the cmmunity wuld apprve paying fr half f the cnstructin csts, if the state were t pay fr the ther half f the cst, participants are largely divided. While 40%, d nt think the cmmunity wuld apprve paying fr a new cnslidated district, nearly 38.7% are unsure, and nly 21.1% f respndents said the cmmunity wuld pass a bnd issue. Why Participants Oppse r Strngly Oppse Supprting a Cnslidatin Thirty-percent (30%) f Berkshire residents said they are ppsed r strngly ppsed t supprting a cnslidatin. Respndents ppsed t the prpsed cnslidatin were allwed the pprtunity t explain their reasn(s) fr answering that way. The tp three mst cmmnly cited reasns against supprting a cnslidatin include: Cncerns abut lsing sense f identity, small-twn, clse-knit envirnment, small class sizes, persnal interactin between students and teachers, individualized attentin student s receive, a district that s t big, and spread t far gegraphically. Lack f infrmatin r details abut the plan t be able t make an infrmed decisin. Participants requested additinal details including: Prpsed csts and peratinal savings. Wh s ging t pay and hw much? Tax structure and hw it affects each f the invlved districts. Curriculum, expanded curse fferings, class sizes, and enrllment. Staffing cnsideratins. Impact n lcal cntrl It is abundantly clear that a significant number f Berkshire residents are cncerned abut lsing their identity. Respndents ppsed t the cnslidatin repeatedly expressed cncern ver t much change fr students, uncertainty surrunding staff reductins, the capacity fr Berkshire take n anther schl district.

9 P a g e 9 Newbury Lcal Schl District Findings Of the 332 ttal survey respndents residing in the Newbury Lcal Schl District, 37.1% described themselves as a parent f a child(ren) enrlled in public schl, fllwed by 23.5% wh identified as a parent f a graduate. Less than half, 47.6%, f respndents are between the ages f 35 t 55, and 53.3% are female. Mre than half said the lcal schl district is prviding quality educatin. Fifty-six percent (56%) rated the quality f educatin as either gd r excellent. Hwever, 84.6% f Newbury respndents are either cncerned r very cncerned abut declining enrllment in their schl district. Thughts n the Prpsed Plan Three-furths, 75.3%, f Newbury residents said a new schl building structure fr grades 7-12 n the Kent State Geauga Campus was a gd idea, while nly 10.8% said it was a bad idea. Hwever, less than half, 47.6% said it was a gd idea when asked abut a new, separate schl building t huse Newbury and Berkshire K-6 grade students n the KSU Geauga Campus, while K-6 students frm Ledgemnt wuld be hused in their existing schls. A breakdwn f the results are prvided belw: If the prpsed plan were t include ne new schl building structure fr grades 7-12 n the Kent State Geauga Campus, d yu think this is a gd idea r bad idea?

10 P a g e 10 What if the prpsed plan als included a new, separate schl building t huse Newbury and Berkshire students in grade K-6 n the Kent State Geauga Campus, while K-6 students frm Ledgemnt wuld be hused in their existing schl? Based n what respndents currently knw, an verwhelming majrity f Newbury participants agree with the prpsed cnslidatin. Nearly 73% said they either agree r strngly agree with the prpsed cnslidatin f bth schl districts, which is significantly higher than Berkshire respnses. Further, nly 10.8% disagree.

11 P a g e 11 Ptential Cncerns Half f the respndents, 50%, prefer t see the lcal elementary schl remain in their cmmunity, fllwed by 49.1% wh either strngly agree r agree they are cncerned abut teacher and staff reductins. Only 21.4% are cncerned the cnslidated schl wuld be t big. Public Supprt fr a Cnslidatin If asked tday, mre than three-furths, 84.6%, f Newbury residents said they wuld supprt a cnslidatin, while 14.5% said they either ppse r strngly ppse supprting a cnslidatin. Hwever, participants are divided when asked if the cmmunity wuld apprve paying fr half f the cnstructin csts, if the state were t pay fr the ther half f the csts. Nearly frty-tw percent (42%) said they were unsure, while 31% said yes, and anther 26.2% said the cmmunity wuld nt apprve paying fr half f the cnstructin csts fr a new cnslidated district. Why Participants Oppse r Strngly Oppse Supprting a Cnslidatin If asked tday, nly 14.5% f Newbury participants said they were ppsed r strngly ppsed t supprting a cnslidatin. Respndents wh ppsed were given the pprtunity t explain their reasn(s) fr answering that way. The tw mst frequently cited reasns against supprting a cnslidatin include: Cncern ver lsing identity, small-twn feeling, small class sizes, individualized attentin student s receive, and a district that s t big and t far spread gegraphically. Lack f infrmatin r details abut the plan t be able t make an infrmed decisin. Participants requested additinal details abut the plan, including: Prpsed csts t taxpayers and wh s ging t fund a new cnslidated district Tax structure and hw it affects each f the invlved districts Impact n academics and scial arenas Staffing cnsideratins What wuld happen t existing buildings? It is abundantly clear a significant number f Newbury residents are cncerned abut lsing their identity. Other cncerns included t much change fr students, uncertainty ver staff reductins, and questins abut hw cnstructing new buildings wuld help slve funding issues. Cardinal Lcal Schl District Fr infrmatinal purpses, the nline survey generated 27 cmpleted respnses frm participants wh said they resided in the Cardinal Lcal Schl District. If asked tday, 70.4% f respndents said they wuld supprt a cnslidatin, 25.9% said they wuld nt, and anther individual wh was unsure. When asked if their cmmunity wuld apprve paying fr half the csts f a cnslidated district, 40.7% f participants are unsure, while 33.3% say n, and the remainder 25.9% said yes. Thse against supprting a cnslidatin are ppsed r strngly ppsed fr the fllwing reasns:

12 P a g e 12 Questins abut the csts and additinal tax increases Cncerns ver staff Reductins Cncerns abut giving up lcal cntrl Lss f identity Cnclusin The pinins and feedback frm this nline survey prvides useful infrmatin fr the schl district cnslidatin cmmittee, as they cntinue t test feasibility fr a ptential cnslidatin between the Berkshire and Newbury Lcal Schl Districts. Like the individual depth interviews previusly cnducted, the respnses frm these 940 stakehlders indicate a public infrmatin campaign is critical t educating the brader cmmunity abut the prpsed cnslidatin. Overall, a majrity f participants agree a new schl building structure fr grades 7-12 n the Kent State Geauga Campus is a gd idea. Based n what participants currently knw, a majrity agree with the prpsed cnslidatin and said they wuld supprt it if asked tday. Because the survey is pt-in and stakehlders are likely t have a cnnectin with the schl district, it s nt surprising many agree with, and wuld even supprt, a cnslidatin if asked tday. Yet, when asked if the state were t pay fr half f the cnstructin csts f a new cnslidated district, wuld their cmmunity apprve paying fr the ther half f the csts; nearly 40% f respndents are unsure while anther 34.6% said their cmmunities wuld nt apprve. A large number f stakehlders said they agree with a prpsed cnslidatin yet they recgnize their cmmunity is less supprtive suggesting a public infrmatin campaign will be essential t educating the cmmunity n the ptential csts and benefits f a prpsed cnslidatin. The next step f the research prcess invlves administering a statistically accurate phne survey t further test and gauge feasibility fr a prpsed cnslidatin.