Tomah Area School District Community Survey Results. Spring 2015

Transcription

1 Tomah Area School District Community Survey Results Spring 2015

2 Survey Summary The community survey was conducted in April and early May of 2015 All residents within the District were mailed a paper survey. Each survey included a unique survey access code for those who preferred to take the survey online. Total responses = 1,408/511 paper (15% response rate) Margin of error for the full sample +/- 2.7%

3 Section I: Respondent Information

4 What is your age? 30% 26% 25% 21% 20% 16% 16% 19% 15% 10% 5% 0% 2%

5 Is your primary residence in the Tomah Area School District (TASD)? 8% Yes No 92%

6 Are you an employee of the Tomah Area School District? 25% 75% Yes No

7 Do you have child(ren) attending the District? 45% 55% Yes No

8 If you have school-aged children, what school(s) do they attend? Tomah High School Tomah Middle School LaGrange Elementary Miller Elementary Private/Parochial School Lemonweir Elementary Warrens Elementary Wyeville Elementary Other Camp Douglas Elementary Offsite 4K site Oakdale Elementary TimberPUPS Center (4K) Public school outside of District Virtual/online school Homeschooled Robert Kupper Learning Center 5% 4% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 0.29% 8% 8% 12% 17% 30% 44% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

9 In which city or township do you reside? City of Tomah Town of Tomah Town of La Grange Town of Lincoln Other Town of Byron Town of Greenfield Town of Adrian Town of Oakdale Village of Warrens Town of Grant Village of Camp Douglas Town of Orange Town of Clifton Town of Cutler Town of Bear Bluff Town of Knapp Village of Oakdale Town of Wilton Village of Wyeville Town of Scott Town of Ridgeville Town of Kingston 5% 5% 5% 4% 4% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 0.97% 0.97% 0.9% 0.82% 0.67% 0.6% 0.37% 0.15% 0.15% 11% 10% 41%

10 Please mark ALL other relationships you have with the Tomah Area School District: 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 41% 32% 26% 16% 11%

11 How often have you attended a District-sponsored event (athletics, performances etc.) in the past year? 40% 38% 35% 30% 26% 25% 21% 20% 15% 15% 10% 5% 0% More than 10

12 Section II: Communication

13 How would you like to receive school/district information? (Does not include staff members) 20% 76% School and District websites 28% 55% From my child(ren) 6% 47% District mailings 44% 44% Family Access (Infinity) 3% 43% School newsletters 21% 43% Conversations with staff 11% 39% Text Messaging 5% 32% Facebook 15% 31% Tomah Journal 29% 62% Meetings at school 5% 21% Automated phone 4% 16% Parent organizations 2% 12% Radio 10% 28% Cable/Local TV 9% 29% School board meetings 8% 11% Twitter 1% 1% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Non-Parents Parents

14 Section III: The Tomah Difference

15 How important are the following? Very important (3), Somewhat important (2), Not important (1) Item Staff Parents (Non-Staff) Non- Parents, Non-Staff Focusing improvements in reading/literacy Developing student employability skills Focusing improvements in math Recruiting, hiring, and retaining high-quality staff Helping students develop a plan for life after high school Focusing improvements in science Connecting families, community and businesses to the educational experience Programming for students with disabilities

16 How important are the following? Very important (3), Somewhat important (2), Not important (1) Item Programming for struggling students at-risk of not graduating Staff Parents (Non-Staff) Non- Parents, Non-Staff Creating more hands-on learning spaces/experiences Improving school safety/security Programming for gifted and talented students Offering a variety of school activities (forensics, theater, FFA, etc.) Scoring high on state and national tests Maintaining competitive high school athletics Programming for non-english speaking students (ELL)

17 Please respond to the following statements. Strongly agree (5), Agree (4), Disagree (2), Strongly disagree (1) Item Staff Parents (Non-Staff) Non- Parents, Non-Staff I feel welcomed when I visit a school in TASD TASD builds strong community partnerships I am satisfied with TASD communication I believe TASD is heading in the right direction

18 Overall, how satisfied are you with TASD? 80% 72% 70% 60% 50% 59% 51% 40% 30% 28% Staff Parents (Non-Staff) Non-Parents, Non-Staff 20% 10% 0% 17% 17% 9% Very satisfied Satisfied 15% 8% 10% Not satisfied 6% 1% 3% 2% 2% Very unsatisfied No opinion

19 Section IV: Educational Initiatives

20 How important are the following? Very important (3), Somewhat important (2), Not important (1) Item Staff Parents (Non-Staff) Non- Parents, Non-Staff Continue to offer the ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) Academy which integrates academics with technical instruction in construction related fields. Continue to offer Project Lead the Way, a pre-engineering program that expands science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) offerings and explores careers in those fields. Establish a Medical Career Academy offering courses that expose students to a variety of careers in the healthcare field Continue offering training and certification for students interested in becoming nursing assistants (CNA program). Establish a one-to-one technology (laptop or tablet computer) initiative to improve student learning and provide students with 21st Century skills

21 How important are the following? Very important (3), Somewhat important (2), Not important (1) Item Staff Parents (Non-Staff) Non- Parents, Non-Staff Establish online courses as a way to expand course offerings Continue to offer multiple online language opportunities through the use of Rosetta Stone software. Establish a different elementary school calendar as an option/choice for parents. Students would attend school for 45 days and then have a 15 day break. This approach would have the same number of school days, but dispersed more evenly. This approach addresses the summer learning loss that often occurs over the extended summer break. Continue support of a Montessori Charter School which emphasizes learning through all five senses. Students work at their own individual pace and master concepts by participating in specifically designed Montessori activities of their own choice

22 Section V: Financial Planning (Residents only)

23 Should the District continue to increase elementary class sizes to save money? 90% 90% 85% 79% 80% All Residents 67% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 25% 16% 11% 7% 8% 5% 3% 4% Yes No No opinion Staff Residents Parent Residents (Non-Staff) Non-Parent, Non- Staff Residents

24 Should the District increase middle/high school class sizes to save money? 90% 80% 70% 60% 74% 82% 81% 62% All Residents Staff Residents 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 29% 20% 15% 15% 9% 6% 3% 4% Yes No No opinion Parent Residents (Non-Staff) Non-Parent, Non- Staff Residents

25 Should the District decrease middle/high school course offering to save money? 80% 76% 76% 70% 68% All Residents 60% 57% 50% Staff Residents 40% 30% 20% 34% 25% 19% 20% Parent Residents (Non-Staff) Non-Parent, Non- Staff Residents 10% 7% 5% 4% 9% 0% Yes No No opinion

26 Should the District consider implementing a student fee schedule? 80% 76% 70% 60% 50% 61% 58% 55% All Residents Staff Residents 40% 30% 20% 10% 35% 35% 32% 20% 7% 4% 10% 7% Parent Residents (Non-Staff) Non-Parent, Non- Staff Residents 0% Yes No No opinion

27 Should the District reduce the number of bus routes not required by law and increase ride times to save money? 70% 60% 50% 65% 60% 60% 55% All Residents Staff Residents 40% 30% 28% 29% 29% 25% Parent Residents (Non-Staff) 20% 10% 16% 12% 11% 10% Non-Parent, Non- Staff Residents 0% Yes No No opinion

28 Section VI: Programs/Services (Residents only)

29 If funding cuts are needed, how should the District budget? Expand (3), Keep (2), Reduce (1) Item All Residents Staff Residents Parents Residents (Non-Staff) Non- Parent, Non-Staff Residents Reading Teachers STEM Physical Education (PE) Special Education Library Media (formerly called librarians) Business Education Summer PACK

30 If funding cuts are needed, how should the District budget? Expand (3), Keep (2), Reduce (1) Item All Residents Staff Residents Parents Residents (Non-Staff) Non- Parent, Non-Staff Residents Technology Staff Gifted & Talented (TAG) Teacher Aides Music Alternative Education Buildings/Grounds/Custodial Staff Family & Consumer Ed

31 If funding cuts are needed, how should the District budget? Expand (3), Keep (2), Reduce (1) Item All Residents Staff Residents Parents Residents (Non-Staff) Non- Parent, Non-Staff Residents Agriculture Art Athletics & Co-Curriculars Social Workers, Counselors & Psychologists World Language Administration

32 Section VII: Funding Support (Residents only)

33 What advice would you give the Board in regards to future budget planning? (Mark all that apply) Item All Residents Staff Residents Parents Residents (Non-Staff) Non- Parent, Non-Staff Residents Consider holding a referendum to maintain current programs/services 56% 81% 59% 41% I'm not sure/need more information 26% 12% 25% 33% Consider holding a referendum to attract/retain quality staff Do not hold a referendum, continue to cut programs and services to balance the budget Consider holding a referendum to increase student and staff technology access 41% 53% 46% 30% 15% 4% 11% 25% 30% 38% 32% 23%

34 Would you help the District maintain current programs and services by supporting a $1,000,000 ($1 million) referendum? At the end of three years, this would be a total tax increase of approximately $28 on each $100,000 of property valuation All Residents Definitely yes 40% 63% Yes Probably yes 23% Undecided 17% Probably no Definitely no 9% 11% 20% No 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

35 Would you help the District maintain current programs and services by supporting a $1,000,000 ($1 million) referendum? At the end of three years, this would be a total tax increase of approximately $28 on each $100,000 of property valuation Staff Residents Definitely yes 69% Probably yes 16% 85% Yes Undecided 10% Probably no Definitely no 3% 2% 5% No 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

36 Would you help the District maintain current programs and services by supporting a $1,000,000 ($1 million) referendum? At the end of three years, this would be a total tax increase of approximately $28 on each $100,000 of property valuation Parent Residents (Non-Staff) Definitely yes 41% Probably yes 26% 67% Yes Undecided 20% Probably no Definitely no 7% 6% 13% No 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

37 Would you help the District maintain current programs and services by supporting a $1,000,000 ($1 million) referendum? At the end of three years, this would be a total tax increase of approximately $28 on each $100,000 of property valuation Non-Parent, Non-Staff Residents Definitely yes 23% Probably yes 25% 48% Yes Undecided 17% Probably no Definitely no 14% 21% 35% No 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

38 Would you help the District update classroom technology and replace aging computers by supporting a $500,000 referendum? At the end of three years, this would be a total tax increase of approximately $16 on each $100,000 of property valuation All Residents Definitely yes 34% Probably yes 28% 62% Yes Undecided 18% Probably no Definitely no 10% 10% 20% No 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

39 Would you help the District update classroom technology and replace aging computers by supporting a $500,000 referendum? At the end of three years, this would be a total tax increase of approximately $16 on each $100,000 of property valuation Staff Residents Definitely yes 49% Probably yes 25% 74% Yes Undecided 17% Probably no 7% 9% No Definitely no 2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

40 Would you help the District update classroom technology and replace aging computers by supporting a $500,000 referendum? At the end of three years, this would be a total tax increase of approximately $16 on each $100,000 of property valuation Parent Residents (Non-Staff) Definitely yes 39% Probably yes 27% 66% Yes Undecided 20% Probably no Definitely no 7% 7% 14% No 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

41 Would you help the District update classroom technology and replace aging computers by supporting a $500,000 referendum? At the end of three years, this would be a total tax increase of approximately $16 on each $100,000 of property valuation Non-Parent, Non-Staff Residents Definitely yes 21% Probably yes 29% 50% Yes Undecided 18% Probably no 14% 32% No Definitely no 18% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

42 Thank you!