Take The HCPS Board Community Survey

UPDATE:  TO DATE, 95% of all of the response to the survey have come from the Varina and Fairfield districts.  The data documents the following:

• 85% state that the board does NOT provide opportunities for citizens to visit area schools.
• 80% feel that the board does NOT solicit input from their segment of the community.
• 81% feel that the board does NOT have procedures in place to assure proper follow-up to citizen concerns.
• 81% feel that the board does NOT permit adequate time for public participation at board meetings. (3 minutes).
• 81% feel that the board does NOT prevent a single individual or group from dominating discussions.
• 85% feel as the the board does NOT actively seek the contributions of faculty, students, and community members BEFORE drawing up new policies. (ex. DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT POLICY)
• 85% feel as though policies are NOT systematically reviewed and evaluated for their effectiveness.
• 80% feel as though board policies are NOT administered without compromising the principles laid down by the board.
• 81% feel as though their board representative is NOT sensitive to the needs of their student.
• 88% feel as though the board is NOT sensitive to the diverse needs of the population on the East End.
• 62% feel as though the board is NOT sensitive to the diverse needs of the population on the West End.
• 81% feel as though the board does NOT demonstrate integrity when dealing with students.
• 77% feel as though the board does NOT demonstrate integrity when dealing with employees.
• 81% feel as though the board does NOT demonstrate integrity when dealing with parents. 
• 78% stated that they would NOT re-elect this present board if given the opportunity again.
• 65% of the respondents had students that attended middle schools in Henrico County.
• 83% of the respondents were African-American, bi-racial, or multi-racial.
• 79% of the respondents’ students did NOT receive special education services.  

*The narratives will follow shortly, this is enough for anyone to digest for a while.  Will the board get it?  Of course not! 

During their last work session, Henrico County Public School Board conducted a “self-evaluation”.

Well, as many parents, students, residents, and educators commented, they did not ask our opinion for a reason, because they do not care to know the opinions of those that elected them.  We know this by the way that they react during the school board meeting “Public Comment” section.

Anyway, we received a survey for us from The Community Council for Integrity In Education, CCIE, and want to share it with our readers.  The questions are directly from the actual school board evaluation form.

See:  http://www.quia.com/sv/195475.html  to complete the survey.  Pass it on.  CCIE is also in the process of developing surveys for the superintendent and for each school within Henrico County.  The results will be posted on July 10, 2008, and will be shared at next month’s school board meeting.

USE YOUR NERVE!