The survey asks residents what they think about the newest plan to replace a deteriorating school building in Granby.
Isabelina RodriguezGRANBY – Isabelina Rodriguez, superintendent of schools, means what she says when she says she wants to know what people in her town think of their schools.
Since she took office in February, the superintendent has met for that purpose with staff, faculty and with parents at an evening get-together at a private home.
Now she has launched an effort to reach an even wider segment of her community.
On Tuesday 1,131 Granby students took home a “District Plan Survey” for parents to share their ideas. In addition, the anonymous survey was emailed to more than 150 school staff members.
A copy of the survey will be offered to voters at the town election May 16, and everyone else in Granby can fill it out by going to the www.granbyschoolsma.org. No computer? Pick up a paper copy at the Superintendent’s office, Granby Junior-Senior High School, 385 East State St.
“I’m very excited about this survey,” said Rodriguez.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with folks to fine-tune it,” she said, adding that it was “tweaked” for each group of responders.
Rodriguez wants to know what grade the respondents would give the schools and how to raise that grade. She also wants to know if people have contacted her office and how the call was handled.
The survey asks more than 50 questions on topics ranging from cafeteria food to advanced placement courses, from how Granby residents get news about the schools to how school reputation and property values are related.
Along the way, the survey also educates readers about how the school system works.
Money is always a touchy subject, and Rodriguez wants to know if the school budget process is clear enough.
The survey reminds respondents of the three-step process: The superintendent proposes a draft of the budget to the School Committee, the committee then finalizes and approves it, and Town Meeting votes to accept or reject it.
Each step in the process is open to the public, and Rodriguez wants to know if people have been able to attend these meetings or if they need other avenues.
The survey asks for feedback on why efforts to fund a new junior-senior high school failed. Was information accessible? Was the tax increase requested to pay for it too great?
This part of the survey also asks respondents what they think about the newest plan to replace a deteriorating school building in Granby.
The plan is to close West Street School, which was built in 1941, and reconfigure East Meadow School to serve children from pre-K to grade 6. The schools are applying again to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for part of the cost, but they will need the support of the town to pay the rest.