Third Annual Communication Survey Report

Trinette Marquis, APR Communication Prof - CSU Sacramento and Sierra College School Communication Consulting Communication 25+ years Author

Survey Background First one in 2016 Conducted each year in May Typeform (online) and paper English and Spanish 2018 election, campus threat

Survey Outreach Launch of the survey and as a reminder prior to closing through the following methods: District and school site websites Text message to families Phone message to families Email to employees School newsletters District Facebook & Twitter

How would you rate your knowledge of the following aspects of the Amador County Public Schools? (1=Not Very Knowledgeable, 5=Very Knowledgeable) Topic 2016 2017 2018 Change Mission 3.03 3.34 3.30 = Plans 2.49 2.9 2.77 Policies 3.19 3.15 Events 3.06 3.58 3.44 Accomplishments 2.96 3.12 Day-to-Day Operations 3.89 3.66 Challenges 2.94 2.98 ↑

Please select each of the ways you have received information about Amador schools: Method 2016 2017 2018 Change District Website 58% 60% 54% = School Website 42% 44% Automated Calls 62% 94% 91% District Newsletter NA 35% 19% ↓ School Newsletter 49% 63% School or District Emails 51% 75% 84% ↑ Amador Ledger Dispatch 39% 30% 38% School or District Facebook Page 18% 43% Twitter 5%  ↑

Please rate the effectiveness of the communication tools in Amador County USD. Please skip the methods you haven't used. (1=Not Very Effective, 5=Very Effective) Method 2016 2017 2018 Change District Website 2.58 3.2 2.96 = School Website 2.74 2.86 2.73 Automated Calls 3.47 4.03 3.53 District Newsletter NA 2.99 2.46 ↓ School Newsletter 3.31 3.59 3.27 School or District Emails 3.86 3.68 Amador Ledger Dispatch 2.61 2.93 ↑ District or School Facebook Page 2.27 2.12 2.65

Which best describes your impression of communications within the Amador County Public Schools?   2016 2017 2018 2016-2018 Change Totals Leaning Negative Doesn’t tell us much about what’s going on 19% 7% 9% ↓10 ↓22 Gives us a limited amount of information 48% 24% 36% ↓12 Leaning Positive Keeps us adequately informed 30% 27% ↑3 ↑22 Keeps us fairly well informed 6% 26% ↑13 Keeps us fully informed 3% 12% ↑6

Please rate the level of trust you have in Amador County Public Schools to do the following: (1=Very low level of trust, 5=Very high level of trust)

Best thing about communications in the Amador County Public Schools They do a good job (49) The use of email (35) The use of automated calls (31) That the district uses many different ways to communicate (17)

How would you improve communication in Amador County Public Schools? Fewer calls/adjust calls (37) More transparency/openness (17) Nothing to improve (13) More communication (13) Keep websites updated (12)

Specific communication tools you think we should be using or using more often Text (18) Email (15) Social media (13) Websites (6)

Overall Continuing to use multiple methods of communication Continuing to utilize Email, Text, Facebook and other social media platforms at the district and site level Continuing to use automated calls Adjusting the frequency and timing of automated calls Transparent communication about crisis and challenges Keeping websites updated Increased and consistent use of social media at the district and school level Increased use of email and text at the district and school level

Positive Stories “The Kindness Club at JES has brought much joy and community building to our school and group of kids that have participated. Many of them return month after month, and based on a survey we have done they enjoy the story/lesson and craft the most. We are proud that kids want to spend their time talking about treating themselves and others with respect, kindness, and staying true to themselves in the face of peer pressure.”

Positive Stories “Another positive happening at our school is the professional development we received this year. Focusing our training on reader's workshop, reading mini lessons, and guided reading groups really reinvigorated my love for teaching reading and monitoring my students progress while guiding my lessons. I appreciate quality training that so closely aligned with my credential program.”

Positive Stories “ I am in awe of my kindergarten students every day. Our new language arts program has been very successful in creating readers and writers and they are so excited and proud of themselves. Math training I received from Fran Gibson really helped me develop number sense and challenge them to think and talk about numbers and math like we think and talk about the books we read. It’s been a great year and I am grateful for the opportunities to grow as a professional and share new strategies with my students.”

Positive Stories “I have a child who has great academic skills but sometimes has behavior issues at school. We are blessed with an incredible teacher who understands him, hold him accountable, and lovingly guides us as his parents according to her expertise and her experience. I am eternally grateful for this and I know we would not have this individualized attention in a larger school or district. Our teachers understand our children, work collaboratively with parents and our principal has outstanding integrity.”

Thank you & Questions