1 Ideas for the Linn-Mar Forums Prepared for Linn-Mar Board of Education September 2008

2 Research methodology On August 14 th 694 s went out to the Linn-Mar staff with the request to complete an on-line survey. Among those, 640 successfully reached the recipient. To increase participation, hard copies of the survey were available to the staff to compete and return to ESC. Sixteen people completed by this form. Findings are based on a sample of 401 people surveyed. Unless otherwise noted, all graphs are based on the complete sample (N=401).

3 Sample characteristics SampleHR Type of employee Certified81% Classified17% Other2% Grade level taught among certified staff PreK – 538%51% 6 – 819%25% 9 – 1220%24% District-wide4%-- Years at Linn-Mar 1-2 years17% 3 – 523% 6 – 1031% % 21+9%

4 Line of Questioning There are a wide variety of topics of interest to Linn-Mar. Below are a few to consider. For each topic, please indicate how important this topic is for Linn-Mar. Of course, there is a laundry list of sub-topics that could be discussed for each, but for now, please rate the general topics. The order of the topics is completely random and you should not assume the board has placed any priority on the list The application of technology to education as a tool for teachers (Teacher tech tool) The application of technology as a learning tool for students (Student learning tool) Closing the achievement gap (Achievement gap) How to deal with an ever changing cultural environment at Linn-Mar (Changing environment) Implementation of the Iowa Core Curriculum (Iowa Core Curriculum) Exploring technology as a problem solving and decision making tool. (Problem solving tool) Teaching students to become lifelong learners (Lifelong learners) Exploring world languages in the elementary schools (World languages) How pre-school for 4 year olds fits into Linn-Mar’s educational plan (4 year olds at LM) Exploring the need for a high school exit project for all 11th and 12th grade students (HS exit project) Discussing the complete high school experience as it is specifically related to facilities. (HS facilities) Meeting the needs of the growing enrollment of secondary students and the transitions that might be needed. (Growth) What a 21st Century school might look like. (21st Century) How we, as a district, can improve our communication both with the public and within the schools (Communication)

5 Areas of Importance

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8 Employment TMCertifiedClassified Sample100%81%17% Lifelong learners73%75%66% Student learning tool63%62%64% Teacher tech tool57%57%57% Growth52%54%45% Achievement gap44%46%36% Communication41%38%52% Changing environment37%40%22% HS facilities30%31%25% 21st Century30%33%22% Problem solving tool21%21%22% 4 year olds at LM20%23%10% World languages19%18%21% Iowa Core Curriculum15%16%13% HS exit project12%11%16% Very important

9 Areas of Importance Grade Level TMElementaryMiddleHS Sample100%38%19%20% Lifelong learners73%78%77%73% Student learning tool63%63%61%60% Teacher tech tool57%56%53%62% Growth52%47%47%74% Achievement gap44%53%36%46% Communication41%41%39%31% Changing environment37%40%41%42% HS facilities30%25%27%45% 21st Century30%32%25%40% Problem solving tool21%23%23%18% 4 year olds at LM20%34%9%17% World languages19%13%20%26% Iowa Core Curriculum15%17%12%16% HS exit project12%14%9%5% Very important