Local schools seek public input through survey

Did you ever feel as if you were left out of the process?

Did you ever think, “Wow, if only I could somehow let them know how I feel?”

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is giving the community that chance.

Thousands of parents and residents in the district are being asked to complete a questionnaire that should take about 15 minutes.

They have until March 24 to do so.

After the survey is completed, district Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard and the Board of Education plan to look at the answers and try to incorporate them into an overall strategic plan.

The plan would serve as a sort of blueprint to the district’s future as it concerns all facets of public education — from how much “real-life” homework assignments students should get to the community’s thoughts on standardized tests.

Those filling out the survey should be forewarned: They’ll have to fill out the survey online, and if they don’t finish in 180 minutes, the survey will “time out,” or disappear from the computer screen, along with their answers.

Laura Boss, spokeswoman for Newport-Mesa, is encouraging anybody who lives in the school district to fill out the survey.

To begin the process, the superintendent last year established four strategic priority areas that he felt were important, and the Board of Education concurred.

The priorities were, in a nutshell, four elements: focusing on student learning; increasing communication between the district’s teachers and its parents; developing skills among employees that apply to the 21st century; and exercising fiscal responsibility.

“We are confident that by working together we will ensure the highest quality education available for our children,” Boss said.

For additional assistance, questions or feedback, contact the district’s Office of Public Information at (714) 424-5070 or feedback@nmusd.us.

Survey Says

The survey link can be accessed via the district’s website here. The survey will be live until March 24. Just click on one of the two categories listed on the link: “Parent” or “Community” and complete the survey.