Report Card

Parents are feeling better about Huntington Beach Union High School

District than they have in nearly 10 years, according to the annual

Parent Satisfaction Survey.

The survey released this week is an accounting of how parents feel

about everything from curriculum to discipline and safety.

The annual survey has become an important tool for the school

district, said Supt. Susan Roper.

“That is one critical component in our decision-making process,” Roper

said. “The survey’s main purpose is to provide benchmarks for

improvement. We ask some very tough questions and we live by the

results.”

The 2001 survey was completed last May.

Since the spring of 1993, the district has commissioned a survey of

parent opinion about district high schools, asking parents to complete a

report card on administration and staff services, she said. Results of

each survey are presented each fall and are used by the district’s six

comprehensive high schools and continuation high school as one indicator

of success or failure.

The 2001 survey revealed that 19 areas have seen a positive increase

over last year and 15 of those areas showed significant improvements. The

survey also stated that six areas declined. Those areas, Roper said, will

be targeted as top priorities for improvements next year. Those areas

include consistent enforcement of discipline, students feeling safe and

the overall maintenance needs of district high schools.

General parent satisfaction was 91% -- the highest percentage since

1993, Roper said.

The survey showed that :

* 83% of parents believed that the academic programs were meeting

expectations.

* 84% of students felt safe at school.

* 83% feel that teachers are effective.

* 83% of parents feel that they get information easily from school

* 73% of parents believe the district promotes understanding and

acceptance of diversity.

* 78% of parents believe teachers have high expectations for their

students.

* 68% of parents feel that district schools are clean and well

maintained.

The survey does not total 100%, as each survey question presented also

contain a “no opinion” option.

Adult classes being offered

Huntington Beach Adult School is offering a host of classes at low or

no cost. New classes begin on a regular basis. Some of the classes being

offered are job training programs, hands-on computer training, career

preparation, parent education classes, English as a second language,

citizenship classes, financial planning and investment, CPR and First

Aid, aerobic and fitness and conversational Spanish.

For registration information call 847-2873 or 842-4779.