Warden community survey underway

WARDEN — Warden School District patrons have about another week to participate in an open survey designed to find out what they think about the district now and where it might be headed.

There are separate components of the “Thought Exchange” survey for district residents, teachers and students.

Warden School Board members set up the survey after some tense board meetings in May and June. Board members wanted to find out what district patrons were thinking, and opted for a survey over a community meeting. Board member Doug Skone said at an earlier meeting board members chose the survey because they thought a survey would reach more district residents.

The survey is online. Letters announcing the survey were sent to parents, other district patrons, past and present employees. Former employees got two letters by mistake and should use the link listed in the letter for former employees, LaBounty said in answer to a question at the Aug. 9 board meeting.

District officials have been working on setting up access for parents and district patrons who don’t have regular access to a computer, said district IT director Jeff Kottong at the July 26 meeting. Kottong said he talked to local business owners, ag processing warehouses in Warden and Warden City Hall, and got “very good” responses. The system will be in place during the school year for people who want access to the WSD website but don't have access to a computer.

At the Aug. 9 meeting LaBounty was asked what happens after the community survey closes. He said the consultant company that designs the survey will analyze the data and submit a report to the school board.

Separate surveys are also planned for teachers and students. The teacher and student surveys are scheduled after school starts.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.