Transcript

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The Findlay City Schools Community Attitudes Survey

Saperstein Associates, Inc. | Spring 2008

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Introduction

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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

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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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The Value of Schools

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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

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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%

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Impressions of the Findlay Schools: Academics

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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%

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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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Impressions of the Findlay Schools: Safety and Discipline

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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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Impressions of the FindlaySchools: Planning and Fiscal Issues

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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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Impressions of the Findlay Schools: Communications

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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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Facts About the Findlay Schools: What Voters Know

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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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The Findlay Schools:Priorities

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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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Ballot Issues …

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Operating Levy

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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

49

Bond Issue

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

53

Income Tax or Property Tax

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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Summary

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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.

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