Last month, the Pottstown School District asked folks to take a survey about their efforts, their successes and where they could do better.
Last night, Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez gave a brief overview of the results, which will be posted shortly on the district website, if they are not there already.
The purpose of the 30-question survey was "to learn more about current perceptions of the district and our communication efforts. We want to determine how we can improve our communication and interaction with key stakeholders," Rodriguez said when the survey was released.
Among the more interesting results, was the fact that most of those who responded were satisfied with the district's early education offerings "but that seems to fall off in the secondary level, which is something we're going to have to work on," Rodriguez told the board.
He was saddened, Rodriguez said, to find that many in the survey do not believe their tax dollars are spent appropriately, although they also strongly approve of the district's advocacy efforts to fully implement the fair funding formula which would add more than $13 million to the district's bottom line each year.
To Stream or Not to Stream
ON another matter that has been brewing with the school board for some months is the question of live-streaming committee meetings on Facebook.
The irony of the fact that some board members were resisting the idea of live-streaming a committee meeting when the very board meeting at which the discussion was itself being live-streamed on Facebook was not lost on all.
Further irony could be found in the fact that having just digested the results of a survey meant to bolster communication with the public, a survey in which their constituents reported that they want more information about the operations of the school district, some members continue to resist doing just that.
Raymond Rose argued that the public deserves transparency from the board.
Kurt Heidel argued that many of those who come to (and watch the livestream of) full board meetings feel confused because the discussion has all occurred at the committees and the votes occur without discussion. "They tell me it seems like we've all made up our minds beforehand," he said.
John Armato, who in addition to being a school board member is also its unpaid director of community relations, took up these theme with a vengeance.
"We ask those people every year for $40 million; they entrust us with about 3,200 of their young people. Tonight we just voted on 16 items by consent and no one watching knows how we reached those decisions," Armato said. "I feel very deeply that we owe them this transparency."
Susan Lawrence said talk at committee meetings is very open and non-structured, including from parents and teachers who attend, but some might not feel as free to speak their minds if they knew the meeting was being live-streamed.
Kim Stilwell took another tack, saying despite the fact that the issue first came up in a public relations committee meeting; and was discussed by the full board at their July workshop meeting, that "not everyone has had their say."
This patently ridiculous claim was based on the fact that the issue had never officially appeared on a committee meeting agenda. "I believe strongly in the committee system," said Stilwell.
Well, she got what she wanted.
With Community Relations Committee Chairwoman Katina Bearden saying she supports the move, but only wants the board to do its "due diligence" in adopting rules for the livestreams, the matter was tabled to her committee for further discussion.
Heidel, who chairs the Finance and Facilities Committee, said he will put the matter on his committee's agenda as well and pursue live-streaming that committee, even if the board ultimately decides against livestreaming the others.
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