McHenry County Blog

Yesterday in Part 1, McHenry County Blog explored questions concerning quality and effectiveness measures for various parts of District 300. There was one obvious omission.

On the next page of the questionnaire that District 300 sent home to parents via their children, there are a series of performance and relationship statements about which the questionnaire wants parents’ opinion:

• There are high academic standards and expectations of students in District 300.
• District schools prepare my child(ren) for the next level of education.
• District 300 schools teach life skills.
• District 300 teachers and administrators are accessible, approachable and responsive to parents.
• District 300 schools are safe.
• District 300 schools provide a positive and orderly learning atmosphere for children.
• District 300 discipline procedures are fair and equitable.
• The District 300 Board of Education understands and represents the parents and the community in its work.
• There is open communications in District 300.
• Parental involvement is encouraged and welcomed in District 300.
• There are adequate avenues for parents to get involved in District 300.
• District 300 is adequately funded.
• District 300 budgets and spends its money appropriately.
• Sometimes it is necessary to increase taxes to maintain the quality of a school system.

Answers to the four questions I have put in boldface type would be useful in crafting a re-election campaign for incumbent school board members, in my opinion.

Comparing the results from parents with those from non-parents, who are being polled separately, could allow campaign consultants for incumbent board members to concentrate on finding their votes among parents.

The next part of the questionnaire concentrates “issues you think are most important to the district.” Parents are asked to pick four of them, plus four that are the least important.

Missing from the questionnaire is

The District 300 Board of Education has been doing a good job.

We can trust our District 300 administrators.

The question is whether you want objective feedback.

I’m not sure District 300's survey questions will provide that. The questions seem to be heavily biased toward a positive response to school district performance.

Tomorrow read about the “issues” District 300 wants your opinions on.

Labels: District 300, ECRA Group, Questionnaire, Survey