nfas budget survey -- community results

137responses

Summary See complete responses

Please identify your position within the HHH school district.Student currently attending school in HHH

Recent graduate of the HHH school district (within the last five years)

Graduate of the HHH school district (greater than five years since graduation)

Parent of student(s) currently enrolled in the HHH school dsitrict

Parent of student(s) who has/have all graduated from the HHH school district

Community member who has not had children attend HHH

Civic Leader/Business Leader/Political Official

Teacher

Administrator

Other staff member.

Other

District Questions

The following are questions similar to those on the district's budget survey. Please respond accordingly.

Do you think public education is a wise investment?Yes, I believe it is. 136 99%

No, I do not believe it is. 1 1%

What is your opinion on the cost of public education, when compared to its benefits?

Edit form - [ Half Hollow Hills Budget Survey -- The Nati... https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/gform?key=0Arl-_...

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I believe the cost is too high, for the benefits provided

I believe the cost is fair, for the benefits provided

I believe the cost is a bargain, relative to the benefits provided

I do not know, or I'm not sure

Please indicate all of the schools which you and/or your child(ren) attended, if applicable.Chestnut Hill 23 23%

Vanderbilt 15 15%

Forest Park 19 19%

Paumanok 9 9%

Signal Hill 17 17%

Otsego 15 15%

Sunquam 10 10%

West Hollow 40 40%

Candlewood 37 37%

High School East 48 48%

High School West 30 30%

Burrs Lane (for graduates and parents) 3 3%

The Hills School (for graduates and parents) 3 3%

Taukomas (for graduates and parents) 1 1%

Sweet Hollow (for graduates and parents) 1 1%

People may select more than one checkbox, sopercentages may add up to more than 100%.

Transportation

Half Hollow Hills provides bus service for all students, to and from school. Additionally, Half Hollow Hills runs buses for fieldtrips, extra-curricular late buses, and buses for athletics. According to the district: "If we eliminate these K-12 after-school/field trip bus runs, the estimated savings would be $200,000". This would include the middle and high school after-school buses (3:45), the high school athletic routes (~5:30pm), elementary after school routes, and field trip transportation.

Do you support the complete elimination of after-school/field-trip runs, at an estimated savings of$200,000?


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Yes 24 18%

No 113 82%

Do you support a merge of the High School athletic and activity busses?Yes 95 69%

No 42 31%

Do you believe students within close proximity to their corresponding school building should be provided with district-run transportation?Yes

No

Yes, but only for the younger students. Older students should walk/use alternate trav

Do you have an additional comments on transportation?

Facilities

Note: This page has been written with the intent to maintain compatibility with the district survey. NFAS is not in theposition to make alternative suggestions regarding building closures. If you would like to propose alternative action (inrespect to facilities), please include such action in the comments field.

Understanding that it costs approximately $235,000 to keep the natatorium (pool facility) openeach year (after generated income is subtracted) do you support keeping the natatorium (poolfacility) open?


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Yes, keep it open. 73 53%

No, close the facility. 64 47%

Do you support closing Chestnut Hill Elementary School, requiring a partial redistricting of students ? This closing would also requirechanges in secondary school feeding patterns and have an approximate savings of $1 million.

Yes, close the facility, and redistrict Chestnut Hill students.

Yes, close the facility, and redistrict the entire elementary student body.

No, keep it open.

Do you support closing Candlewood Middle School which would include the followingreconfiguration: Elementary grades K - 6; one Middle School grades 7 - 8; High Schools grades 9- 12 for an approximate savings of $2.5 million?

Yes, close the facility. 56 41%

No, keep it open. 80 58%

Do you support the reconfiguration of the elementary buildings to be K-6 for the 2013-14 school year with anapproximate savings of $1 million? This scenario would require the closing of Candlewood Middle School for the2014-15 school year.

Yes, reconfigure and close Candlewood. 64 47%

No, do not reconfigure. 73 53%


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Do you support closing High School West with the following reconfiguration: Elementary grades K-6; MiddleSchools grades 7-9; close High School West and have High School East grades 10-12 (approximateenrollment of 2,500 students)? There would be no changes to the instructional program at the high schoollevel and the approximate savings is $5 million.

Yes, reconfigure and close HSW. 34 25%

No, do not reconfigure. 103 75%

Do you have any other comments about district facilities, redistricting, or reconfiguring the currentgrade distribution?

Academic Programs

The following academic programs are being considered in the budget reduction process. Please indicatewhether you would agree, or disagree with this reduction.

Reduce full-day kindergarten to half-day for an approximate savings of $1 million.Agree 55 40%

Disagree 82 60%

Eliminate Academically High Aptitude Program (AHAP) and enrichment programs for anapproximate savings of $500,000.

Agree 88 64%

Disagree 49 36%


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Eliminate elementary band, orchestra and chorus (band, orchestra and chorus tobegin in middle school) for an approximate savings of $590,000.

Agree 38 28%

Disagree 99 72%

Eliminate elementary health teachers for an approximate savings of $200,000.Agree 103 75%

Disagree 34 25%

Eliminate elementary summer school for an estimated savings of $250,000.Agree 98 72%

Disagree 39 28%

Eliminate high school summer school for an estimated savings of $100,000.Agree 55 40%

Disagree 82 60%


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Eliminate teaming and shift to an eight-period day at the middle schools for anestimated savings of $1.5 million.

Agree 98 72%

Disagree 39 28%

Change high school schedule to an eight-period day (approximate savings of $1.5million).

Agree 48 35%

Disagree 89 65%

Eliminate drivers' education (approximate savings of $230,000).Agree 68 50%

Disagree 69 50%

Close the Planetarium (approximate savings of $100,000).Agree 59 43%

Disagree 78 57%


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Close the Discovery Center (approximate savings of $100,000).Agree 90 66%

Disagree 47 34%

Eliminate the Research Program (approximate savings of $220,000).Agree 47 34%

Disagree 90 66%

Do you have any further comments, ideas, or suggestions regarding academicprograms within HHH.

Extra-Curricular Activities

The following extra-curricular activities are being considered in the budget reductionprocess. Please indicate whether or not you support this reduction.

Eliminate all after school clubs and intramurals at elementary level to saveapproximately $30,000.

Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree

1 -Strongly Disagree 44 32%

2 34 25%

3 35 26%

4 -Strongly Agree 24 18%


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Eliminate all after school clubs at middle schools to saveapproximately $150,000.



2 46 34%

3 9 7%


Eliminate all middle school athletic teams to save approximately$400,000.



2 37 27%

3 19 14%


Combine high school junior varsity and varsity teams to saveapproximately $600,000.



2 23 17%

3 22 16%


Do you have any comments, suggestions, or insight regarding extra-curricularactivities offered within Half Hollow Hills.

Building Staff


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Reduce building-level administrative positions.



2 18 13%

3 34 25%


Reduce subject area administrative positions.



2 22 16%

3 33 24%


Reduce the number of guidance counselors at the middle-schoollevel.



2 23 17%

3 29 21%


Reduce the number of guidance counselors at the high schoollevel.



2 30 22%

3 20 15%



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Reduce the presence of bathroom monitors at the high schools.



2 28 20%

3 28 20%


The District currently employs security guards, for a total cost of$550,000, who are assigned to each of its buildings. Are you infavor of keeping the entire security force in place for the 2013-14school year?



2 27 20%

3 26 19%


Do you have any further comments, suggestions, ideas or insightinto building staff?

Teaching Staff

How do you believe Half Hollow Hills teachers are paid?

Very Poorly Very Well

1 -Very Poorly 3 2%

2 50 36%

3 -Very Well 84 61%


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How would you rate the benefits provided to teachers inthe district?

Not enough Too many

1 -Not enough 0 0%

2 76 55%

3 -Too many 61 45%

How would you rate the quality of instruction in the HHHschool district?

Very Poor Very Good

1 -Very Poor 1 1%

2 5 4%

3 34 25%

4 60 44%

5 -Very Good 37 27%

Are you in support of the current teacher tenure system?Yes 14 10%

No 81 59%

I'm not sure 41 30%

Do you have any additional comments, suggestions, ideas orinsight concerning teaching staff?

Administrative Staff

For the purposes of this page, administrative staff consists ofsuperintendents, department coordinators and directors, as well asother supporting central-office staff.


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How would you rate the pay of district administrators?

Too Low Too High

1 -Too Low 0 0%

2 1 1%

3 24 18%

4 37 27%

5 -Too High 75 55%

How would you describe the quantity ofsuperintendents in the HHH district?

Too Few Too Many

1 -Too Few 0 0%

2 55 40%

3 -Too Many 82 60%

How would you describe the quantity of directorsand coordinators in the HHH district?

Too Few Too Many

1 -Too Few 0 0%

2 54 39%

3 -Too Many 83 61%

Do you believe Central Office could be moreefficient?

1 -No 5 4%

2 32 23%

3 -Yes 100 73%


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No Yes

Do you believe district administration is effective?

No, very ineffectiveYes, very effective

1 -No, very ineffective 13 9%

2 22 16%

3 67 49%

4 29 21%

5 -Yes, very effective 6 4%

Are you satisfied with the current administrative staff?

No, very displeasedYes, very pleased

1 -No, very displeased 15 11%

2 28 20%

3 57 42%

4 31 23%

5 -Yes, very pleased 6 4%

In exchange for a temporary pay freeze, the administrative contract was appended witha no-termination stipulation. Do you agree with this stipulation?

Yes 11 8%

No 84 61%

I'm not sure 41 30%

Do you believe administrative staff should be relocated, and Manasquanleased?


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Yes 89 65%

No 48 35%

Do you believe administrative staff exhibits sufficient transparency?Yes 50 36%

No 87 64%

Do you believe administrative staff could have prevented the current budgetshortfall?

Yes 84 61%

No 53 39%

Do you believe administration has been honest and forthcoming regarding thebudget planning process?

Yes 58 42%

No 78 57%


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Do you have any additional comments,suggestions, ideas or insight concerningthe current HHH administrative staff.

Have you ever filed a FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) request with the schooldistrict?

Yes 9 7%

No 128 93%

Students

Which grade are you inFifth 0 0%

Sixth 1 1%

Seventh 0 0%

Eighth 1 1%

Ninth 6 4%

Tenth 21 15%

Eleventh 6 4%

Twelfth 11 8%

Community Leaders

Please provide a title for your role in thecommunity


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Please describe the duties of yourposition in the community

Do you pay a portion of property tax tothe HHH school district?No responses yet for this question.

FOIL

How would you rate your experience with your FOILrequest

Very Poor Very Good

1 -Very Poor 0 0%

2 2 1%

3 6 4%

4 0 0%

5 -Very Good 1 1%

Do you have any further commentsregarding a FOIL request.

Board of Education

Do you believe the Board of Ed exhibits sufficient transparency?


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Yes 49 36%

No 88 64%

Do you consider the Board of Ed to be effective?

No, Not EffectiveYes, Very Effective

1 -No, Not Effective 21 15%

2 34 25%

3 50 36%

4 24 18%

5 -Yes, Very Effective 8 6%

Do you think the Board of Education could have prevented the current budgetshortfall?

Yes 83 61%

No 54 39%

Do you believe the Board of Education has been honest and forthcomingregarding the budget planning process?

Yes 60 44%

No 76 55%


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Are you in favor of the current Board of Education?

No Yes

1 -No 15 11%

2 32 23%

3 62 45%

4 16 12%

5 -Yes 12 9%

Do you have anyadditional comments,suggestions, ideas orinsights regarding theHHH Board of Education?

District Funding

In developing the current 2012-13 budget, the District utilized $4.25 million ofits reserves (an increase of $500,000 from the year prior) and an additional$5.25 million of fund balance (an increase of $750,000 from the prior year) tohelp balance the budget. Do you support increasing the use of Districtreserves and fund balance to maintain programs and/or lower the tax levy for2013-14?

Do Not ReccomendStrongly Reccomend

1 -Do Not Reccomend 10 7%

2 27 20%

3 53 39%

4 -Strongly Reccomend 47 34%

School districts are legally able, by "piercing the cap", to increase the tax levybeyond that which the Property Tax Levy Cap formula would allow. Would yoube in support of piercing the cap in order to maintain some District programs?


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Yes 80 58%

No 57 42%

If the District were to present a budget which had reductions but also pierced the cap, at what percent over the cap would yousupport?

I do not support piercing the cap. 45 33%

1-2% above the Property Tax Levy Cap formula percent 48 35%

3-4% above the Property Tax Levy Cap formula percent 28 20%

5% above the Property Tax Levy Cap formula percent 16 12%

Do you have anyother comments,statements, ideas orinsight regardingdistrict funding?

The NationalFederation ofAmericanStudents

Note: The responsesto the followingquestions will *not* beprovided to the schooldistrict.

Do you believe that students in the district should be provided with a forum to expresstheir opinions adequately to the community, Board of Education and administration?


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Yes 124 91%

No 6 4%

I'm not sure 7 5%

Do you believe students have sufficient opportunities to express their opinions, regardingtheir education?

Yes 18 13%

Most of the time 20 15%

Occasionally 37 27%

No 46 34%

I'm not sure 16 12%

Do you believe the administration and Board of Education properly considers theexpressed opinions of students, when making decisions?

Yes 7 5%

Most of the time 6 4%

Occasionally 36 26%

No 63 46%

I'm not sure 25 18%

Do you haveany furthercomments,suggestions,ideas orinsights aboutthe involvmentof the studentin the district'sdecision-makingprocess?


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Do youhave anyfurthercomments,suggestions,ideas orinsights,regardinganythingnotdiscussed?

Thankyou!(Pleaseclicksubmitbelow)

Please besure toclicksubmitbelow. Aconfirmationwill bedisplayedwhen youranswersarerecordedproperly.

Number ofdailyresponses


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nfas budget survey -- community results

Documents

hills school

school buses

school routes

high school west

high school east

hhh school district

high school athletic

corresponding school