the findlay city schools community attitudes survey
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The Findlay City Schools Community Attitudes Survey. Saperstein Associates, Inc. | Spring 2008. Introduction. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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The Findlay City Schools Community Attitudes Survey
Saperstein Associates, Inc. | Spring 2008
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This research gives district residents a voice. It allows the voting public to express its opinions on myriad school-related issues – and, in doing so, provides the board and the administration valuable data as planning for the district’s future continues.
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Methodology• Telephone interviews were conducted
with a random sample of 505 registered voters, all of whom live in the Findlay City School District.
• The interviews were conducted between May 13 and May 19, and average 17 minutes in length.
• The findings presented throughout this report are accurate to +/- 4.4 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence.
• The sample was developed from voting records provided electronically by the Hancock County Board of Elections and Ohio’s Secretary of State.
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GenderMale 46%
46%Female 54%
54%
Age18 to 34 15%
14%35 to 54 38%
37%55 and older 47%
49%
The interviews represent registered voters on several key dimensions,
including gender, age, …
Sample Population
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… jurisdiction, and households with children younger than 18.
JurisdictionFindlay 1 12%
11%Findlay 2 18%
21%Findlay 3 9%
10%Findlay 4 19%
16%Findlay 5 15%
15%Findlay 6 17%
19%Marion 7%
5%Liberty 3%
3%
Children < 18 35% 29%*
Sample Population
*2000 U.S. Census
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Good Schools Benefit Everyone
More than nine out of ten voters agree that good public schools benefit
everyone, not just families with school-age children.
Disagree strongly1%
Agree moderately22%
Disagree moderately
4%
Agree strongly73%
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Strong Schools Increase Property Values
Nine out of ten voters also agree that strong schools increase property values.
Disagree strongly2%
Agree moderately28%
Disagree moderately
4%
Agree strongly65%
No opinion1%
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Declining Schools May Cause Employers to Leave
Eight out of ten voters agree that when a school system begins to decline, local employers are more likely to leave the community because they find it more difficult to attract and retain qualified
workers.
Disagree strongly3%
Agree moderately39%
Disagree moderately
14%
Agree strongly42%
No opinion2%
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Impressions of the Findlay Schools: Overall
Fair2%
Good52%
Average25%
Excellent15%
Poor1%
Two out of three voters rate the Findlay Schools excellent or good.
No opinion
5%
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Voters with no children in the
Findlay Schools
Impressions of the Findlay Schools
Voters with children in the Findlay
Schools
Positive impressions of the Findlay Schools are especially common among
parents of children enrolled in the schools. The difference, however, is not
large.
66%
74%
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Quality of Education
Improving30%
Staying the same53%
No opinion9%
Three out of ten voters feel the Findlay Schools are improving. Only one out of
12 feels the schools are declining.
Getting worse8%
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Voters with no children in
the Findlay Schools
Findlay Schools are Improving
Voters with children in the Findlay
Schools
Again, positive impressions are slightly more common among parents.
28%
34%
18
40%
44%
35%
38%
33%
22%
25%
19%
Good Excellent
Preparing students for college
Hiring and keeping highly-qualified
teachers
Providing for students with special
needs
Teaching students to be tolerant
Impressions of the Findlay Schools: Academics
More than half the voters praise the district for preparing students for college, hiring and keeping qualified teachers, providing
for students with special needs, and teaching students to be tolerant.
57%
60%
66%
73%
19
31%
31%
35%
9%
11%
10%
Good Excellent
Preparing students for the 21st Century
Preparing students who don’t go to
college
Providing personal attention
45%
42%
40%
By contrast, fewer voters praise the district for preparing students for the
21st Century, preparing students who do not go to college, and providing students
with enough personal attention.
Impressions of the Findlay Schools: Academics
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Two out of three voters feel that the balance between core subjects, such as reading and math, and other subjects,
such as art and music, is just about right.
The Balance Between Core Subjects and Other Subjects
About right68%
Too little on core subjects
15%
Too much on core subjects
7%
No opinion/other10%
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Four out of ten voters feel there is too much emphasis on standardized testing – even though almost everyone knows that these
tests are required by law.
Too much41%
About right40%
No opinion14%
Yes94%
No1%Not sure
5%
Amount of Emphasis Required by Law
Too little5%
Standardized Testing
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More than half the voters see the emphasis on computers and technology as
appropriate; many, however, have no opinion.
Emphasis on Computers and Technology for Instructional Purposes
Too much3%
Too little 19%
About right56%
No opinion22%
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Two out of three voters see the emphasis on sports as just about right. One out of
four, however, considers it too much.
Emphasis on Sports
Too much25%
Too little 2%
About right68%
No opinion5%
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Nine out of ten voters feel that Findlay’s foreign language curriculum should include Spanish. Strong interest in
Asian languages may speak to a recognized need for a 21st Century
education.
90%
48%
45%
36%
30%
26%
Spanish
Japanese
French
Chinese
Latin
Foreign Language Priorities
.
German
*Respondents selected three languages from six listed.
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Three out of four voters praise the Findlay Schools for keeping students, teachers, and staff safe from violence.
Fewer, though still a majority, praise the schools for maintaining discipline.
Safety and Discipline
40%
45%
15%
29%
Good Excellent
Keeping students, teachers, and staff safe
from violence
Maintaining discipline on school property 55
%
74%
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Half the voters praise the district’s performance planning for the future. Though three out of ten may not be
impressed, few are critical.
Excellent10%
Planning for the Future
Average30%
Fair7%
No opinion11%
Poor1%
Good41%
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Half the voters also feel that the district is spending tax dollars
responsibly. Here, however, slightly more are critical.
Excellent10%
Good40%
Spending Tax Dollars Responsibly
Average27%
Fair10%
No opinion9%
Poor4%
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Eight out of ten voters feel that, in light of the education students receive,
tax dollars are well spent.
Agree strongly40%
Agree moderately42%
Tax Dollars Well Spent
Disagree moderately
11%
Disagree strongly6%
No opinion1%
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Two out of five voters agree that the district communicates well with the
entire community, including residents without school-age children.
Excellent10%
Good34%
Communications
Average37%
Fair12%
Poor3%
No opinion4%
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All voters
Parents
Not parents
44%
52%
41%
Voters with children enrolled in the Findlay Schools have more positive
impressions of how the district communicates, but the difference is not
large.
Communications: Excellent or Good
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Findlay Courier
Friends, family
Radio
73%
The Findlay Courier is the most common source of information about the schools.
Sources of Information About the Findlay Schools
Children enrolled
District newsletter
Teachers
District Web site
12%
8%
8%
7%
6%
25%
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One out of three voters has been to the district’s Web site during the past six
months. Nearly all of those voters found it helpful.
Visited the District’s Web Site
Yes33%
No67%
Very helpful36%
Somewhat helpful
58%Not helpful
6%
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Only one out of five voters knows the number of students enrolled in the
Findlay Schools.
Smaller30%
*Correct18%
Enrollment
Larger9%
Not sure43%*Correct = 5,000 to 7,500 (6,230)
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Only one voter in eight knows the number of students in the average
Findlay classroom. Most believe the average is higher.
Smaller1%
*Correct14%
Average Class Size
Larger73%
Not sure12%
*Correct = 15 to 20 (17.44)
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Half the voters know that the Findlay Schools have earned a rating of “Effective” from the Ohio DOE.
Lower28%
*Correct48%
Rating by Ohio DOE
Higher8%
Not sure16%
*Correct = Effective (2006-07)
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The typical voter knows only one of the three facts tested. Only one in a
hundred knows all three.
Three correct
Two correct
One correct
None correct
15%
38%
46%
1%
Accuracy Index
Average correct = 0.8
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High
Improving the Millstream facilities
Making students, teachers, and staff
safer from violence
Improving the quality of teachers
Two out of three voters rate several priorities high, ...
Renovating or replacing older
schools
Priorities
Investing more in computers and
technology
69%
64%
64%
51%
47%
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Improving the Millstream facilities
Making students, teachers, and staff
safer from violence
Improving the quality of teachers
… however, a plurality feel that renovating or replacing older schools should be the
highest priority.
Renovating or replacing older
schools
Highest Priority
Investing more in computers and
technology
8%
10%
19%
22%
40%
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Six out of ten voters recognize the need for an operating levy to provide money for the district’s day-to-day operations.
Recognize the need59%
Support for an Operating Levy
Now is not the time38%
No opinion3%
These data were collected before the current 5.9 mill levy was placed on the November 4 ballot.
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All voters
Parents
Younger than 55
59%
66%
65%
Support for a levy is strongest among voters younger than 55 and
parents.
Support for an Operating Levy
48
All voters
Concerned about financial future
Seniors
59%
51%
40%
Support for a levy is weakest among seniors and voters concerned about the financial
future. Still, a majority of seniors support a levy.
Support for an Operating Levy
50
Six out of ten voters recognize the need for a bond issue to renovate or
replace older schools.
Recognize the need62%
Support for a Bond Issue
Now is not the time35%
No opinion3%
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All voters
Parents
Younger than 35
62%
80%
73%
Support for this issue, too, is strongest among the youngest
voters and parents.
Support for a Bond Issue
52
All voters
Concerned about financial future
Seniors
62%
56%
46%
Again, support is weakest among seniors and voters concerned about the financial future.
Support for a Bond Issue
54
Initially, voters support an income tax more than a property tax for school
funding.
Income tax60%
Income Tax or Property Tax
Property tax27%
No opinion /
other13%
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However, when told that an income tax is paid entirely by residents, but a property
tax by residents and businesses, a majority favor a property tax.
Income tax39%
Income Tax or Property Tax
Property tax53%
No opinion /
other8%
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• Most voters have positive impressions of the Findlay Schools; few, however, consider them excellent.
• Positive impressions are especially common among parents, voters more familiar with the Findlay Schools.
• District voters recognize the value of public schools – whether or not they have school-age children. At a mini-mum, most agree that schools have an impact on employment opportunities and property values.
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• At least six out of ten voters praise the district for:
• Keeping students, teachers, and staff safe from violence;
• Preparing students for college;
• Hiring and keeping high-quality teachers; and
• Providing for students with special needs.
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• Fewer voters praise the district for:
• Preparing students who don’t go to college;
• Providing personal attention; and
• Communicating with the entire community, including residents without school-age children.
The schools should review these areas closely.
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• Though most voters are satisfied with the schools’ curriculum, many are troubled by the strong emphasis on standardized testing, the state mandate notwithstand-ing.
• A strong interest in Asian languages may suggest that many recognize the need for a global education.
• At least half the voters praise the district’s performance planning for the future and believe that tax dollars are spent wisely.
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• For many voters, renovating or replacing older schools is the top priority.
• Finally, a majority of voters recognize the need for an operating levy and bond issue. The district should continue to educate voters about that need, especially in advance of the November 4 election. If the proposed levy passes, the district should continue to consider a bond issue.