USD 475 began surveying Geary County residents on Monday.
Phones will be ringing across the Geary County School District as a comprehensive survey of patron opinions will begin, so please don’t hang up.
Hugh Davis, Executive Director of Communications, said the survey of 400 households will provide insight into what residents think about USD 475’s strengths, challenges, priorities, and their thoughts on a potential new high school.
“This survey will give us an outstanding opportunity to hear from a cross-section of Geary County residents and military families regarding their opinions about our performance, and what our priorities should be for the future,” said Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent of Schools. “We’ll hear from all geographic parts of the district, people of all different ages, and everyone from newcomers to long-term residents.”
The 10 to 15 minute survey will touch on a wide variety of topics, and will include “pick one” type questions, along with opportunities for residents to share their comments. The information gathered will be shared with the JCHS Steering Committee as they help shape the direction and way forward for our high school. The committee will provide a recommendation to the Board of Education in January of 2017.
The survey was designed by Patron Insight, Inc., a Kansas City-based market research organization that has worked with school districts across the Midwest on similar research since 1992.
The calling will be done by Kansas City-based Market Research Associates, a firm that uses only locally based, professional researchers. Participants will be selected totally at random, and all responses will be kept completely confidential.
In general, calls will be placed between 7 and 9 p.m. on weekdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. While there may be some variation on those times, no calls will take place during the traditional dinner hour. The caller ID may show “Market Research Associates” or it may simply show an 816 or 913 area code, as the company uses calling facilities in both Missouri and Kansas.
For those who are not contacted at random on the phone, an online version of the survey will be available on the district’s website.
The survey process will take about two weeks to complete, and USD 475 is asking patrons to listen for their phones to ring.
“We really want to hear from you,” said Davis. “So, if you get a phone call on this survey, please participate, and please let us know what you think.”
Hugh Davis
Executive Director of Communications – USD 475