Lawrence schools hear strong praise in community survey responses

Of 1,394 responses, teachers drew the strongest praise in Lawrence Public Schools’ community conversation process. The same responses showed only 56% of respondents rated academic challenge positively. The Lawrence Board of Education heard the results at its June 22 meeting at the Educational Support Center, 110 McDonald Drive in Lawrence, where Superintendent Jeanice Swift said the survey would help steer July strategic planning.

The feedback came from January through March via surveys, in-person community conversations and open-ended written responses. Of the 1,394 responses, 546 came from families, 454 from staff and 299 from students. Swift said the results are a baseline for how the community views Lawrence Public Schools.

The clearest strengths were in classroom relationships and teacher support. Overall, 76.7% of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their school. Another 78% gave strong marks for teacher support and care, and 72% praised teacher dignity and kindness toward students. Another 80% of families said teachers were responsive when they raised concerns.

Just 60% of respondents said students had the support and resources they need to meet individual learning needs. About 59% said schools provide enough help for social, emotional and mental health needs and for behavior policy enforcement. Related concerns in the same presentation included only 61% rating the overall quality of education favorably, 56% of families satisfied with academic challenge, staff rating education quality at 67%, about 67% of families satisfied with safety and 69% of staff satisfied with how bullying and safety concerns were handled.

Open-ended comments called for more communication about academic programs and postsecondary opportunities, better compensation for staff and more consistent behavior and policy enforcement. Board member Carole Cadue-Blackwood asked for more detail about who responded and whether students or families of color were also asking for more academic rigor. Kelly Jones asked whether the district’s EPIC staff-engagement survey was still underway, and Swift said it was.

Swift said she had already asked a couple of administrators to return with more perspective on the conversations and would bring them back to share additional insight. The district offers a traditional survey and a shorter Quick Pulse survey on its community conversations page.