District conducts community surveys for future improvements

Kaitlin Clark and Sophia Comas

Throughout the month of April, USD 383 has conducted a series of online and phone surveys that they are still in the process of completing. The surveys ask for public opinion regarding future additions and renovations to district facilities and address overcrowding.

“There was a survey for all USD 383 staff and faculty, there’s a survey for parents, current USD 383 parents, and there’s a community survey,” USD 383 Director of Communications and School Safety Michele Jones said. “So again, that will give us just some additional information, what people are thinking and feeling and the direction that we want to go.”

After the surveys have been processed, administrators will begin examining the data in hopes of seeing what the community wants from the district in the future.

“We take the feedback and thoughts of everybody and the demands of what we need and we try to piece it together to look at what we’re going to put in a potential bond issue to ask the voters for later,” Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid said.

The survey results will help guide the district into formulating a detailed plan outlining the various solutions discussed at their meetings, including possible changes for Manhattan High.

“I think it’s important for Manhattan High School to be consolidated under one roof as one building as opposed to two buildings,” Manhattan High principal Greg Hoyt said. “There’s a stark difference in those and so I’d really like to see the ninth graders and teachers of ninth graders the quality facilities to teach and learn in as well.”

The surveys raise the question of funding and how much money the district is willing to ask tax-paying citizens to provide.

“The purpose of the survey is to really get feedback on what facilities, what grade configurations, what new construction, what additions to current facilities would they support, and the bond issue and exactly how much the tax paying and voting citizens would be willing to support,” Hoyt said.

District administrators encourage everyone to participate in the survey and voice their opinion.

“I just encourage people to give their thoughtful feedback to us. Tell us what they’re thinking,” Jones said. “It will be good information for us to have as we move this process forward.”

The survey results will help the district decide between several plans, including the construction of a new grade school, an expansion of the current middle schools and the unification of Manhattan High’s East and West campuses. The district expects to receive survey results mid-May.

“We’re just excited to hear back from people,” Reid said. “We look forward to getting the results and putting together a good plan for the community and the district in the future.”