Stanwood schools seek grade

Published 11:03 pm Monday, March 31, 2008

STANWOOD — The Stanwood-Camano School District is looking for feedback on how it is doing.

Through separate surveys, it is asking families and students to share their impressions about their schools with questions covering issues such as grading, discipline, communication and sense of safety.

The district also is asking its teachers and other employees to offer their thoughts through an e-mail survey.

“The survey provides quantitative data to show the perception that our families have on the support and safety of the learning environment in our schools,” said Cathy Britt, a school district spokeswoman.

This is the third time the district has used a survey to guide its planning. It did so last year and during the 2003-04 school year.

The information is important to the district, Britt said.

For instance, the district has a goal this year that 80 percent of students and their parents or guardians feel that schools provide “an emotionally safe, supportive learning environment” where students feel that “their voices are heard, acknowledged and respected.”

As the district pursues that goal, it has introduced new programs, such as an emphasis on violence prevention at Stanwood Middle School, CPR and first aid training for staff members, and an event to help parents of incoming kindergarten students prepare their children for school.

“This data truly does shape our district goals and our school improvement plans,” Britt said. “It would be very helpful if families (could) take five minutes to fill out a family perception survey for their children’s schools.”

The surveys are at www.stanwood.wednet.edu.

Friday is the deadline to complete the survey.

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or e-mail stevick@heraldnet.com.