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Parents asked to rate schools

Renee Shadforth
Sierra Sun

Parents of students in the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District have their own homework assignment this month.

The school district sent home with students a Parent Satisfaction Survey, a questionnaire that asks parents what they think about schools in the district. The 24-question survey, available in English and Spanish, comes with a Scantron, so parents can fill in the bubbles with their answers.

“We want to use the feedback to help improve,” said Dennis Williams, the school district’s superintendent.



While it’s the first time Tahoe Truckee Unified has done a district-wide survey, Williams said he has used similar surveys in past districts.

This year’s questionnaire will provide benchmark data to compare to surveys in future years, so district administrators can see where they have improved or fallen with parent satisfaction. Parents are asked about topics ranging from parent-teacher communication to satisfaction with school bus services.



“I hope that everybody takes advantage of it, and not only fills out the Scantron, but also writes comments,” said Kathleen Gauthier, principal at Glenshire Elementary School.

At Glenshire Elementary, Gauthier has sent a questionnaire home to parents every year, and the surveys have produced results, she said. Based on parent feedback, the school implemented a language program, with both Spanish and French. The school also addressed parent concerns with safety in the Glenshire Elementary parking lot. Now a parent patrols the parking lot before and after school.

Results from the district-wide survey should be tabulated by early May, Williams said. After that, he will review results with principals and the school board.

“Parents do have choices,” he said. “We need to be sensitive to our parent customers, and meet their needs to the best of our abilities.”


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