Parent Survey 2008 Results Overview

Date: 10/31/2008 8:00 AM PST
Responses: Completes | Partials
Filter: No filter applied

Dear East Longmeadow Schools Parents, First, thank you for taking a few minutes to answer these important survey questions. Your answers will provide us data as we make decisions about our school district. Is is important we know the "pulse" of our parents prior to making district decisions. As promised, your answers are completely anonymous. You can only answer this survey one time- this website will not allow multiple responses from the same computer. So, please answer the short 21 questions all in one sitting please. We will post all survey data back on our webpage in November for you to see the full results. Thank you.Dr. Ed Costa, Superintendent.

The questions below relate to the annual School Calendar of school days.

1. We have used the first day of school in both formats- before Labor Day (August), and after Labor Day (September). As a parent, which do you prefer?   Before Labor Day (usually last week of August) 212 41% After Labor Day (usually the end of the first week of September) 307 59% Total 519 100%

2. The winter Holiday vacation period has been scheduled in several ways in the past. The number of actual school vacation days is always a discussion point. Which do you prefer?   One week off for winter break (usually 5 school days off) 224 43% A week and a half off for winter break (usually 8 school days off) 229 44% Two weeks off for winter break (usually 10 school days off) 69 13% Total 522 100%

3. Additional school vacation breaks are traditional across the nation as well as in Massachusetts. If you want your child to get out of school a week earlier in June, which vacation week would you be willing to remove from the school calendar?   February break week (usually the 3rd week in February). 198 38% April break week (usually the 3rd week in April). 63 12% Neither, I like having both school vacation breaks as it is right now. 259 50% Total 520 100%

4. The length of the school day right now is approximately 6 hours long for students. If you wanted to increase the school day, which would you prefer?   Increase the school day by 30 minutes for academic subjects 136 26% Increase the school day by 60 minutes for academic subjects 116 22% Neither, I like the length of the school day as it is currently. 270 52% Total 522 100%

5. The length of the school year is always a topic for families- some say it should be longer, others say they like it as it is. The law requires 180 days of school for all students- and this is exactly what East Longmeadow offers. Please indicate below what your recommendation is:   Add more days to the school year- our students can benefit from additional days. 160 31% Keep the school year exactly as it is- 180 school days is enough instruction for our students. 360 69% Total 520 100%

6. Halloween is a tradition in the USA. It allows children to go out "trick or treating" around the neighborhood. Many families do it as a family activity together- parents and children. In a few of our calendars, we have offered the next day (November 1) as a day off from school so children can get their rest and recouperate. Which do you prefer?   Keep November 1 as a school day- our children get enough sleep the night before. 327 63% Make November 1 as a day off from school- our children need a day to recouperate their sleep from the Halloween night. 195 37% Total 522 100%

7. Town, State, and National elections are now all held at Birchland Park Middle School for our community. Do you feel school should be canceled on these days?   Yes 142 27% No 378 73% Total 520 100%

The next few questions deal with your child's access to technology at home.

9. Does your child have access to a computer with internet access in your home?   Yes 498 96% No 19 4% Total 517 100%

10. Would your child be able to use the computer for a school assignment if he/she needed to use it?   Yes 502 97% No 18 3% Total 520 100%

11. We have offered several parent information nights about internet safety and security. If we continue to offer these- would you attend a night meeting about internet safety?   Yes 310 60% No 209 40% Total 519 100%

12. Does your child have a cellular/wireless phone with your permission?   Yes 268 52% No 250 48% Total 518 100%

13. We currently use an automated phone dialing system with messages called Connect-Education. These are the messages you get about school canceled on snow days and principals calling with school announcements. Please give your opinion below:   I think the use of the Connect-Education auto dialer is appropriate. 453 88% I think the use of the Connect-Education auto dialer is used too much. 37 7% I think the use of the Connect-Education auto dialer is not used enough. 27 5% Total 517 100%

This last category of questions are general questions that we would like your opinions on.

14. School uniforms (research) has shown to save money for parents and households. Uniforms can be as simple as golf shirts and khaki pants, for an example. Would you support the use of school uniforms for your child? This is a yes or no question in general. The following question is about what grade level for uniforms.   Yes 314 61% No 200 39% Total 514 100%

15. If you support the use of school uniforms, then answer below. If you do not support school uniforms- leave this question blank. What grade level do you support the use of school uniforms?   Elementary levels 11 3% Middle school level 19 6% High School level 16 5% All levels 276 86% Total 322 100%

16. What is your opinion on the quantity of home work currently for your child?   Not enough homework. 68 13% Too much homework. 83 16% Homework is currently adequate. 365 71% Total 516 100%

17. Recently, we added door buzzers to all our schools as part of our school security plans. Some parents feel it is important, others have stated it is an inconvenience. What are your thoughts on school security?   I think school door security is a must for today's society. 451 88% I don't like the door security at our schools. 22 4% Other, please specify 38 7% Total 511 100%

18. Additional school security is an expense to our schools. However, there are areas of security we want to know if you would support. Please mark all items you would support below:   Security cameras on play grounds 313 69% Call box systems on play grounds 232 51% Install emergency buzzers in schools (like fire alarms- but for security purposes) 307 68% Other, please specify 55 12%

19. Field Trips are generally accepted in East Longmeadow. Please indicate your opinions on the quantity of field trips for your child:   The number of Field Trips for my child is appropriate. 337 66% The number of Field Trips for my child is too many. 15 3% The number of Field Trips for my child is not enough. 159 31% Total 511 100%

20. Field Trips are a generally accepted experience for students as part of their education. Given the cost of gas for school buses, and the cost for nurses that now must accompany students on field trips (state law), please give your opinion below as it pertains to the school budget each year:   Keep field trips- it is part of the overall school experience. It should be built into the annual school budget. 292 57% Make field trips a "pay as you go" option. That way, if a class/school wants to go on a field trip, parents can pay for that particular experience for their child. 202 39% Discontinue field trips. This is an option that is not needed in school. 21 4% Total 515 100%

Basic Annonymous data for our survey.

21. As stated at the beginning- this survey is completely annonymous. However, to help us understand responses that pertain to elementary, middle and high school- please mark below (if you have several children in school, mark all that apply):   My child is in elementary school 302 59% My child is in middle school 179 35% My child is in high school 198 38%