During the Holbrook Unified School District No. 3 Governing Board meeting on June 14, the board received a summary of the HUSD student and parent surveys that were conducted in April. Holbrook High School Principal Dr. Jeri McKinnon explained that the information gathered from the surveys are used to help the schools improve.
Of the high school seniors who took the survey, 93% felt that at least one staff member took a genuine interest in them and their ability to succeed. “I think that this is evidence that the high school teachers and staff are making an attempt to cultivate positive student teacher relationships,” stated Dr. McKinnon, “I think this is extremely important since research shows that positive student teacher relationships draw students into the process of learning and promote their desire to learn.”
In contrast, only 55% of those same students felt they were satisfied with the leveling of counseling and guidance support they received. “I think that this shows us that we have got to support and guide our students more through their high school years, especially those junior and senior years,” Dr. McKinnon explained. “I’m hoping with the implantation of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), elected classes and Grow Arizona, that students are going to have increased support and guidance.” Dr. McKinnon did note that the “neutral” option on the survey could contribute to the low positivity score and recommended it be removed for future surveys.
Only 67 out of approximately 650 parents of seniors participated in their respective survey, with the majority being satisfied with the school’s educational programs, while also showing a desire for more counsel and guidance work to be done with students.
Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich added that typical survey involvement for schools is 90% female. “This means moms are more involved than dads. So, we’ve got to figure out how we get dads more involved.”
The eighth grade student survey was overall positive and showed that students felt ready for high school, but Junior High Principal Cheri Grau did state one concern she had for the students. “Feeling they are valued as a person and encouraged to be their best self, only 79.4% of the kids felt that way, which I think is too low. That needs to be higher,” she stated, “but then the very next question said that they believe teachers and the staff HJHS care about them and their success, and they rated that at 90%.” Grau added that she believes this points to the idea that the issue has to do with peer relations. “64% of the students felt that the students at HJHS don’t show each other respect.”
To combat this issue, Grau stated sustainability of the schools’ social and emotional will be the focus of the next school year. “I want the kids to feel that they’re respecting each other and being respected by their peers at the junior high and not just by the staff and teachers.”
A hundred and eleven junior high parents participated in the parent survey, which is 30% of parents. Grau noted that 88.2% of parents rated the educational programs as highly effective or effective.
Hulet and Park elementary schools’ Principal Kevin Fosburgh gave an overview of the survey for the fifth grade students, with over half approving of the school and feeling confident with who they are.
As for the parents, “91% between the two schools rated our education programs as highly effective or effective,” stated Fosburgh. He mentioned that they received comments about the lack of science and social studies in the curriculum. He explained that although it isn’t taught in a designated block of time, it is integrated into other parts of their programs, which the schools will highlight in the upcoming school year.
Indian Wells Elementary Principal Andrea Tomlin reported on sixth grade students survey, who overall gave the school positive reviews and feel prepared to move onto junior high school. Parents also gave overall positive reviews.
