District community survey results show continued positivity
(10/04/2018) More and more members of the community view Anoka-Hennepin as a district of excellence.
That’s according to a scientifically valid community survey conducted by the Morris Leatherman Company in July, in which 500 randomly selected residents throughout the district were contacted by phone. Peter Leatherman, CEO of the nationally recognized survey research firm, shared that the overall results for the district were above-average in many cases.
Anoka-Hennepin’s excellent rating continues to climb. It’s now 10 percent higher than the metro average for a combined total (excellent and good ratings) of 88 percent. In fact, 87 percent of those surveyed also believed that the district meets the learning needs of all students. “It’s a five point uptick — it’s statistically significant and it reflects a positive trend,” Leatherman noted.
The results showed that Anoka-Hennepin prioritizes three things equally — good teachers, good education and good programs. Leatherman noted that most districts are only focused strongly on one item as opposed to all three. “It’s atypical to have that close of a split,” Leatherman said.
Parents are continuing to have positive responses to a variety of school-level experiences, including: school is safe, 87 percent agree; teachers and staff care, 95 percent agree; and that individual learning needs are met, 90 percent agree.
Financially-speaking, the majority, 71 percent, believe the district spends tax money effectively and efficiently. This is actually a slight increase from last year, following a referendum, in which a dip would have been expected. “You’ve been above the norm for the past four years, but you actually went up statistically significant on agreement on this question at a time where the regression is typically 8-10 percent after a referendum.” Leatherman explained.
High taxes only reached 11 percent as a serious issue, where the norm, comparatively-speaking, is 15-20 percent across the metro. “(Anoka-Hennepin is) different from the history over the last couple years on a concern on taxes and different than the comparative metro average, even after a successful referendum,” Leatherman shared.
Large class size still rises as the top serious issue facing the district. Stronger this year, was lack of funding and drug/alcohol use. Leatherman noted that the drug/alcohol issue, specifically, could be influenced by external factors such as news reports and what’s going on in other school districts. “The issue on drugs across cities, counties and school districts is rising as a concern (across the metro).”
The district has been able to track data over the last 15 years with the Morris Leatherman Company, and when necessary, adjusts district operations to meet community expectations as a result.
View the full results via the Sept. 24 School Board meeting documents at ahschools.us/SBstream.