Strategic Plan - Pre-Planning Survey Reports

Pre-Planning Survey Reports

Internal Pre-Planning Survey Report

67 out of 125 returned = 54% Return Rate

1. What do you perceive as the unique strengths of East Lansing Public Schools?

· Competent, dedicated teachers (53)
· Diversity of student population (38)
· Community support/involvement (30)
· Advance placement classes (15)
· Staff/administration (16)
· Fine arts program (15)
· Highly involved parents (15)
· MSU (12)
· Diverse educational opportunities (9)
· NCA accreditation (9)
· Location/size of district (12)
· Benefits (10)
· Special needs program (7)
· Full day Kindergarten program (6)
· Reputation (6)

2. What do you perceive as present weaknesses or limitations of East Lansing Public Schools?

· Funding issues (38)
· Staffing issues (35)
· Administration issues (27)
· Curriculum issues (24)
· Lack of vision (20)
· Large class sizes (17)
· Decreasing student enrollment (18)
· Lack of technology throughout the school system (10)
· No alternative high school (8)
· Diversity issues (8)
· Maintenance/facility improvement needs (7)
· Board of Education (7)
· Lack of ELL services (7)
· Communication problems (6)
· Perception that all students are going to college (4)

3. What are the concerns/threats that you foresee for East Lansing Public Schools in the next 4 years?

· Budget/financial issues (44)
· Staffing issues (25)
· Class size (21)
· Upgrading facilities and technology (21)
· Lack of respect (12)
· State requirements (12)
· Decreasing benefits/salaries (9)
· Elitist attitude (8)
· Decrease in parental support (8)
· Lack of vision (7)
· Lack of support by Administration (6)
· School of Choice Program (5)

4. What do you think are the critical issues that must be addressed by East Lansing Public Schools in the next 4 years?

· Financial issues (57)
· Curriculum issues (43)
· Staff morale/staffing issues (26)
· Class size (19)
· School Board involvement (16)
· Leadership (16)
· Technology (16)
· Counselors (9)
· School of Choice Program (5)

5. Please identify two or three outstanding accomplishments of East Lansing Public Schools over the past 3-4 years.

· High school/middle school renovations (51)
· Curriculum (27)
· Graduation rates/success of graduates (21)
· Test scores (16)
· K-8 reconfiguration (13)
· Full day kindergarten (13)
· Bullying program (13)
· Community involvement (13)
· Performing arts program (10)
· High school in a more positive reality (9)
· East Lansing Foundation support (8)
· Hiring a strong superintendent (5)

6. What two or three principles or ideals are essential to the mission of East Lansing Public Schools?

· Academic quality (33)
· Student centered (30)
· Diversity (24)
· Quality teaching staff (24)
· Equal opportunities for student (18)
· Preparing children for life (19)
· Parental support (18)
· Higher education standards (14)
· Respect and integrity (14)
· Community partnership (14)
· Athletic excellence (4)

7. What is your personal vision - your hopes and aspirations - for East Lansing Public Schools?

· That we are able to maintain high standards and accomplishments. (12)
· ELPS needs to become a financially well managed district that makes decisions based on what will improve education for all students. (11)
· The district ought to become one of the best districts state and nation wide. (9)
· We need to be the best we can be. There needs to be more employee support or morale will go way down. (5)
· There are too many students that are not inspired or performing to their fullest. We need more vitality and informed instruction in the earlier grades. (5)
· That the School Board recognizes that it is a policy board not a curriculum board. (4)
· Stop trying to cut corners with outdated curriculum. (3)
· Return to smaller community-oriented schools where a variety of courses are available to promote the success of many students. (3)

8. What other thoughts might you want to share about East Lansing Public Schools?

· We want and need Dr. Chapin to make regular contact with all of the schools. This would go far to improve relationships between central administration and teaching staff. (6)
· Leadership that gets people on the BOE for increased expectations is essential.
· We lack strong community partnerships. There is some poor accountability at the administrative level. Also, inconsistent policies directly affect student achievement. (5)
· We need to make this transition. We have been suffering through the past 10 years. We need to embrace who we are and what we can do now and into the future instead of clinging to the fraying coattails of the past. (3)
· My children's education here in EL was excellent. Each year, though, I noticed the widening gap between academic abilities. Is there a way to bridge this?
· Marble School is an amazing place for a child to learn, for a parent to take part in the learning process and for a teacher to teach. (2)
· We used to be great. Now we are fair. There is no vision, support, trust or leadership at any level.

Male - 15

Female - 52

Yes - 18

No - 49

Community Pre-Planning Survey Report

66 out of 125 returned = 53% Return Rate

1. What do you perceive as the unique strengths of East Lansing Public Schools?

· Teaching staff (38)
· Diversity (30)
· Parental involvement (27)
· Commitment to quality education (23)
· Community involvement (21)
· MSU (21)
· Reputation for excellence (19)
· Curriculum (18)
· Extracurricular programs (16)
· Strong leadership (14)
· Updated facilities (10)
· Full day Kindergarten (9)
· Music program (8)

2. What do you perceive as present weaknesses/limitations of East Lansing Public Schools?

· Financial issues (30)
· Curriculum issues (27)
· Union issues (24)
· Staffing issues (21)
· Class size (19)
· Lack of strategic focus (16)
· Communication problems (12)
· Lack of community focus (10)
· Aging facilities (9)
· Food quality (6)
· School of Choice Program(6)
· Bureaucracy (6)
· Technology (6)

3. What are the concerns/threats that you foresee for East Lansing Public Schools in the next 4 years?

· Lack of funding (45)
· Economy (33)
· Loss of students (19)
· Curriculum issues (18)
· Union issues (17)
· Class sizes (14)
· Staffing issues (14)
· Cuts to extracurricular programs (13)
· Lack of respect between teachers and administrators (9)
· School of Choice Program (9)
· Lack of parental support (8)
· Reconfiguration of schools (7)
· Overemphasis on standardized tests (7)
· Elimination of full day Kindergarten (5)
· Negative PR (5)
· School of Choice (6)
· Aging facilities/equipment (6)

4. What do you think are the critical issues that must be addressed by East Lansing Public Schools in the next 4 years?

· Curriculum (35)
· Staffing (34)
· Funding (33)
· Building sense of community (24)
· Technology (24)
· Strategic direction (16)
· Maintaining high academic standards (14)
· Class size (13)
· Declining enrollment (11)
· Aging facilities/equipment (10)
· Diversity (7)
· Security/safety (4)

5. Please identify two or three outstanding accomplishments of East Lansing Public Schools over the past 3-4 years.

· New Superintendent and Board of Education (25)
· Success of graduates (22)
· High school and middle school renovations (20)
· Staffing (15)
· Quality of education (15)
· Full day Kindergarten (14)
· Reconfiguration of K-8 (11)
· Budget/financial stability (11)
· Anti-bullying policy (11)
· NCAA accreditation (9)
· Curriculum (7)
· New playgrounds (5)

6. What two or three principles or ideals are essential to the mission of East Lansing Public Schools?

· Value everyone and respect all (36)
· Academic excellence (33)
· Diversity (22)
· Quality staff (18)
· Value for Community (17)
· Safe and creative place to learn (14)
· Preparing students for the real world (13)
· Forward thinking and innovative (10)
· Strong parental involvement (10)
· Technology skilled (9)

7. What is your personal vision - your hopes and aspirations - for East Lansing Public Schools?

· To be the premier district in mid Michigan and have a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere where our students can achieve and are rewarded for achievement in many ways. (7)
· That we can be creative and positive in our thinking to make us into a new, vibrant school system. (7)
· Allow more individualized learning opportunities and maintain sports/music/arts/language programs. (6)
· For the community to embrace the K-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12 system or agree on a better grade split. (4)
· Resolve budget crisis. (4)
· I would love to see the reinstatement of the gifted/talented programs. (4)
· Our family was attracted to East Lansing because of its reputation for quality education. Now I see that reputation shifting away from East Lansing. (4)
· Create a positive learning environment that will accept and celebrate diversity on more of a district-wide basis. (4)

8. What other thoughts might you want to share about East Lansing Public Schools?

· I am concerned that many people still don't understand school financing and therefore don't understand the severity of the situation. (5)
· Sometimes I think the teacher's union is too strong and is unwilling to make changes in the best interest of the students especially during these poor economic times and changing technological world. (4)
· To reduce administrative costs and stabilize enrollment and budgets, I think ELPS should consider consolidating with similar school systems, namely Haslett and/or Okemos. (4)
· The school board has my support in its quest to contain labor costs. We must hold firm. We need to seek relief from the state and the limitations of Proposal A. (3)
· I am very proud of our schools and impressed with the music program. (3)

Male - 25

Female - 41

Yes - 44

No - 22