By Jolene Farley
Data from a survey mailed by the Hills-Beaver Creek school system on Jan. 4 and 5 will help determine whether the School Board should proceed with plans for new locker rooms and a community fitness center.
The survey, prepared by the H-BC School Board and Superintendent Knoll, was sent to all families with children enrolled in the district.
The survey contains a variety of questions. Some pertain to the quality of the H-BC school system, others to the locker rooms and community fitness center.
Section A asks for a response to the following yes or no questions:
-Our school expects the best from our students.
-Our school expects the best from our school staff.
-The school provides a climate which helps manage studentsÕ behavior in a positive manner.
-The curriculum is meaningful and applicable to real-life situations.
-I am effectively informed about my childÕs progress in school.
-I am effectively informed about the schoolÕs educational programs and policies.
-The food service program provides nutritious food for students.
-Our lunch prices are reasonable.
-The school buses are clean and safe.
-The transportation system is prompt and dependable.
-Children feel safe in the school environment.
-The instructional staff have open lines of communication with students and parents.
Section B contains the following questions:
-All things considered, our schools are better today than they were five years ago.
-The Hills-Beaver Creek School District provides quality educational services.
-Students are often given the grades A, B, C, D, and Fail to show how well they're doing in school. Suppose the Hills-Beaver Creek School District were graded in the same way. All things considered, what grade would you give the H-BC School District?
-Do you feel the community would benefit by having a community fitness center?
-Would you pay a yearly community fitness center membership? (circle one): $75, $100, $125 or no.
-Are the present high school building and locker rooms able to meet the needs of our high school?
-The school buildings are well maintained and kept clean.
-In my contact with the school office personnel, my needs are met promptly, courteously and professionally.
-Do you read the school newsletter?
-How many years have you lived in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District. (circle one): less than a year, 1-3 years, 4-6 years, 7-10 years or 10 years or more.
-If a community fitness center were built, what equipment would you like to see? (essay)
-What is your primary source of school information? (essay)
-Do you have any school district concerns? (essay)
"It looks like it will give us some kind of direction," said Knoll, who has looked at some of the comments but has not tabulated the results yet.
"I think it is an opportunity for people to give feedback; not everyone is going to be positive. I am pleased with what we got back. When you ask for comments you have to be prepared to get what you get."
Although no cut-off date was specified on the survey, return so far has been good, according to Knoll.
The district has received approximately 200 completed surveys from respondents out of 700 mailed. This is about what the board hoped for when it sent the surveys.
"We have not tabulated or done a thing with them," said Knoll. "We hope to do a draft for the (School Board) meeting on the January 22." Knoll plans to have the H-BC math class do the final tabulations.
Knoll said they will wait until they receive only a few stragglers a day before compiling the results.
The board plans to conduct a community meeting to further explore the locker room and community fitness center issues at an undetermined date in February, according to Knoll.
"If the public sees it as a need the board would proceed," said Knoll. "The board has no desire to go to vote. They would use existing money in the general fund for locker rooms. If the fitness center was built we would have to get the city or county involved. We donÕt have that kind of money."
The district is still accepting surveys and reminds everyone to return them.