Surveys track parent, student concerns

At St. Catherine of Siena School in Albany, students don't have to raise their hands to express their thoughts about their school. And parents don't have to wait until parent-teacher conference time rolls around. Instead, they all can make suggestions through an unusual form of communication: parent and student surveys.

St. Catherine's School has offered surveys to parents of its preschool through eighth-grade students for many years, but the form has changed over time. Ten years ago, parents received a detailed, eight-page questionnaire every other year with specific questions about the school.

Surveys were usually taken when St. Catherine's wanted to make a change, such as adding a pre-kindergarten class, and was gauging parental interest in a new program.

Open-ended

Then the school began offering open-ended, more frequent surveys. Today, about three times a year, parents receive a school newsletter with a questionnaire, asking for feedback on everything from curriculum and tuition to school clubs and lunches.

Parents are asked what aspects of school programs or policies and their child's experience they are most pleased with, and what changes they would like to see.

Theresa Ewell, principal, told The Evangelist that the newer, less formal surveys are easier to distribute, because they don't need to be reworded every time they are sent.

Specific surveys are also still taken when the school wants to make a change in a program. When tuition practices were modified last year, for example, parents were surveyed and supported the changes.

Means of dialogue

The use of surveys has proven a boost for St. Catherine's.

"We've always encouraged people to talk about immediate problems, but their overall concerns about the school are not something they'd think to come forward about," explained Mrs. Ewell. "This is anonymous, so they can express themselves freely. It forces the issue of thinking about how they feel about things."

The school believes strongly in communication. Several changes have resulted from the surveys, including the addition of an extended day program, preschool and art program.

Parents' ideas

Another change involved the timing of the parent-teacher conference, formerly held in February. Through the survey, the principal said, "we found that parents felt that was too long to wait. We changed it to November, which is much better."

Parents also asked to be told as far in advance as possible about upcoming school events and fundraisers, so they can plan accordingly. St. Catherine's calendar and newsletter are now much more detailed as a result.

The number of fundraisers at the school was reduced at parents' requests. St. Catherine's used to hold several fundraisers that did not generate much income, and "people felt like they were running all school year," Mrs. Ewell said. A survey resulted in limiting fundraisers to four major, money-making events.

Changes by survey

The top changes requested by parents have been:

* Parent-teacher communication, requested to be as frequent as possible;

* more space for additions like a computer lab and a science lab; and

* smaller classes.

"Parents would like to see us back to 25 [in a class], but we're up to 29 or 30," Mrs. Ewell said. "It's a balancing act."

Space is at a premium in the school, as well; and since surveys from both parents and students indicated a need for expansion, St. Catherine's is looking into that possibility, and has consulted an architect about changes.

Need more feedback

Despite the feedback resulting from the surveys, only about 20 percent of the 155 families at St. Catherine's respond to them. Much of their feedback is positive, and the principal hopes that others may not use the surveys because they feel no need to.

"If communication is flowing," she explained, "they don't have to wait to get a survey."

Parents, however, are not the only ones surveyed at St. Catherine's. Eighth-graders are asked for their reflections in a survey before they graduate, and fifth- through eighth-graders are often asked for feedback about the school.

Student input

One recent survey asked students about their interest, effort and success in school, and what motivated them to make an effort and enjoy schoolwork. Most students felt they tried hard; hoped to get into college and get good jobs someday; and felt motivated by positive comments, rewards and competition.

Student surveys are a learning experience, Mrs. Ewell said. "It gets them thinking about goals: Feedback about how they'd like the school to change, or things they like and don't want to change. They're very mature in their answers, and it makes them feel involved."

Students may request longer lunches, more recess and the construction of a swimming pool; but more often, they offer suggestions about school programs, such as updating the school's computers.

"We really do get some valuable information," said Mrs. Ewell.

Responsive

When students requested study halls, St. Catherine's instituted one every other week. While that was all the students' schedules could accommodate, the principal called it a compromise: Students now had one night when they could expect less homework, and their needs were responded to.

In addition to lockers (limited by space considerations), students' most-requested changes include:

* Study-skills workshops, which were instituted after a survey last year;

* space for a large gym, science lab, and easier access to the library and computer rooms; and

* computers in classrooms. St. Catherine's will soon join the New York Wired system to provide for that need.

Mrs. Ewell admitted that surveys -- student and parent -- can be frustrating. Not every change can be addressed; and since the surveys are anonymous, specific comments affecting one family or child can't be approached one-on-one.

However, she said, the benefits outweigh the detriments: "We need a way to field some ideas among the people. Our perceptions aren't always those of the majority -- and it's good to have honest feedback."

(08-29-96) [[In-content Ad]]