MIDDLEBURY — The Addison Central School District (ACSD) is reaching out to its students and their families, asking how the district could open up better lines of communication to make sure all stakeholders are better informed about goings-on and educational programming.
To that end, the district is administering a survey to parents and students asking them if they feel adequately informed through current ACSD outreach, of if they think improvements are in order.
The survey is being spearheaded through the ACSD’s new, 14-member Community Partnership Council made up of students, educators and community members.
Creation of the council stemmed from a priority in the ACSD’s new strategic plan that “all students feel they matter to people in the community.” The panel’s main function: Act as a sounding board and to strengthen the partnerships within the ACSD that promote student success.
Erika Garner is coordinator of the new council, which counts ACSD Superintendent Peter Burrows among its members.
“The council is working to increase support for our students by leveraging the considerable resources we have in our communities,” Burrows said of the effort. “Their work has begun in looking at communication between school and community, and will be expanding to include providing guidance on the supports and services we develop, and analyzing school and county data to determine need. The council serves an advisory role and is a voice to continually improve our connection to our students, parents, communities and agencies to realize the potential of what we can do when we all work together toward the same goal of healthy, happy and engaged learners.”
In essence, the district wants students and parents to become more active participants in the public education process. And that means keeping folks in the loop, Garner said.
“(The district) wants to ensure that all families receive and are able to access the information they need, when they need it,” Garner said through a recent letter the partnership sent to all ACSD families.
District officials hope the student and parent surveys provide some valuable feedback to shape future ACSD communication policies.
Students took the survey last week.
Meanwhile, parents still have a chance to fill out their on-line communication survey. It can be accessed through ACSD school websites and can be taken through this week. Go online to http://bit.ly/2lf3oYf to see a letter from Garner and Burrows and to take the survey.
The survey includes such questions as:
•  How often would you like to receive updates on your child’s classroom activities, and how would you like to receive those updates?
•  What types of information would you like to receive (a list of options is provided in the survey).
•  How often do you visit ACSD websites?
The survey also allows respondents to weigh in on the communication skills of their local schools, teachers and administrators.
Anyone with questions about the surveys, or the Community Partnership Council, should contact Garner at [email protected].
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].