Survey

PTO SURVEY RESULTS

Thank you to everyone who responded to our survey - 112 people! The results of the survey are below. We appreciate all the comments that were sent in as well. Although we will not print all the comments, we have summarized them. Finally, we have tried to address any questions that were sent in - our comments are in blue. Thanks again!

1 & 2 were demographic questions.

3. Do you feel you are sufficiently informed about PTO activities and decisions by the PTO Board?

4. Which of the following do you use to stay informed about activities at Broadus Wood?

6. Do you have any comments or suggestions on how to improve either the newsletter, website, or communication from the PTO in general?

Comments included:

a. A suggestion to post the newsletter in the copy rooms and faculty lounge. We will try this in the future.

b. Some people remarked about not knowing about the PTO website. This is understandable as the website was a work in progress for most of this year. Renovations will continue over the summer and we hope to have it be a more useful site for information next year. Please send in suggestions/comments on the website to afmejiav@yahoo.com.

c. There was a request for the newsletter to the ‘Upcoming Event’s section to include such things as field trips and assemblies. Done!

d. Someone requested a summary of the PTO meetings, as well as an agenda and minutes. The meeting agenda is posted on the PTO website along with the minutes (see above). It does take us a while to get the complete minutes posted, however, so in the future we will include a ‘Recap’ of the meeting in the newsletter following a meeting.

e. Some felt the newsletter was too long. Hopefully the synopsis and calendar at the top will continue to allow people to focus on items of interest to them. As the website becomes more functional, there may be times when we can put longer details there instead of in the newsletter. We try to be succinct, but thorough.

f. Someone expressed concern that the PTO asks teachers to communicate on our behalf. We generally do not ask teachers to do this. We do send home order forms and announcements from time to time, however, using Backpack Express. For those things, the teachers are asked to distribute the forms to the students in their class.

g. Another person was concerned about families who do not have internet access. This year we have sent home hard copies of the newsletter to families who do not have an e-mail address and will continue to do so in the future. Unfortunately, these families do miss out on e-mail reminders.

h. There were several comments about reminders of event. We have tried to be judicious in our use of e-mail because we know people usually get too much. We’ll try next year for more regular reminders of events.

i. Thank you for the suggestions about reaching out to EARL and JABA.

j. Lastly, someone expressed concern that we do not encourage people to attend the PTO meetings and/or that non-Board members are seen as a nuisance. This is categorically not the case. We would love it if more people attended our meetings. If anyone has any suggestions about what would make people more willing to come (different time, day of the week, snacks), then please let us know!

7. For several years the PTO has purchased school supplies for all students at Broadus Wood. The PTO is able to save money by purchasing these items in bulk. This also saves families time and ensures all students have the same supplies when needed. However, we are considering changing this in order to free up more funds for different activities at the school. For the 2015-2016 school year, which option would you prefer most?

A clear majority preferred the option where families pay $15 for the supplies, but the PTO purchases them. We spent a long time discussing this at the last meeting and eventually agreed to try to do this for the next school year. Each teacher provides us with a detailed list of required supplies. This is what families would normally get if they had to purchase them on their own. We will provide these lists so everyone knows what is being purchased with their money. At this point it is most likely that all the supplies will be provided directly to the teacher prior to the beginning of the school year, as was done last year, rather than making individual bags of supplies. We are still working on the process by which we will have families send in the money for the supplies at the beginning of the school year.

8. Please rank the following activities, from a favorite activity to something that doesn't interest you at all.

We were pleased to see that our events were liked by so many people and plan to hold these events next year with the exception of the Skate Nights. The school is getting a new, real gym floor. While this is great news, unfortunately skating will not be allowed in the gym. The Election Day Bake Sale primarily serves the people who come to vote at Broadus Wood and because it is such a successful fund raiser, we will continue to have it.

9. The Fall Festival currently includes a dinner, Trick or Trunk, games, a raffle, and a costume contest. Please let us know if you think this event should continue to include all these activities.

The Fall Festival Planning committee will be encourage to take this information into consideration as they plan next year’s event.

10. I am satisfied with:

11. Are there any other activities you would like to see the PTO sponsor?

Here are the suggestions that were made. We will discuss these at our first meeting next fall.

Side walk chalk art show

Movie night

Christmas tree angel

Dance for 3-5 or 4-5 / Parent-daughter dance

Children’s Author Visit

Basketball Club (afterschool)

School garden

Lego Robotics

Read-a-thon

Parent get-togethers

Community building activities

“Throw Back” Carnival

Math Olympiad

Geography Bee

Trivia Night Fundraiser

Cultural Festival

Road Race / Fun Run

Spring Bike Safety Day

12. Have you ever volunteered at a PTO event?

13. Please let us know the biggest challenges in volunteering.

14. This year the PTO chose to do a Direct Donation campaign as the major fundraiser for the year. Please choose one of the following:

15. In addition to our general fundraiser, would you be willing to donate to fundraisers held for specific items such as P.E. equipment, furniture for the courtyards, science instruments, etc.?

16. This year the PTO has spent its budget on items like school supplies, field trips, assemblies, the Cornerstone Project, and a new sound system. Are you generally satisfied with how the PTO spends the budget?

17. Do you have any alternative suggestions on where the PTO should invest its funds?

Fix the school piano

After school/evening community events

Front playground The playground is being renovated this summer through Building & Services.

Helmets for Skate Nights Unfortunately, skating will not be allowed on the new gym floor.

More assemblies

PE equipment

Trips to DC museums

Competitive Science Fair

More activities in the Spark Lab

More books for the library, especially chapter books

Upgrade the walking path

Upgrade the baseball field

Safety anchors on the soccer goals We are checking on this as those were purchases several years ago.

Learning Garden and Courtyard We’re working on this!

Sensory learning aids and technology items like iPads

Items for teachers We surveyed the teachers and are working on ways to better serve their needs.

18. Please use the space below for any additional comments or suggestions. Thank you very much for completing our survey!

Suggestion for an internet based calendar that people could subscribe to with phones or computers (We’ll look into this.)

Provide a book for each child at the end of the year, perhaps through Scholastic so teachers could get the points.

After school club options that are less expensive.

Someone really liked the teacher involvement at this year’s Talent Show and BW Dance. (Agree!)

There was a suggestion that the Vice President position be more of a ‘President in Training’ position.

A yard sale at the school sponsored by the PTO. Small fee for a table, donations sold by PTO; anything left over could be donated to Earlysville Thrift Shop.

Upgrades to the art program, such as new materials to work with.

There was a question about providing meals for children who don’t qualify for free or reduced lunch but don’t have enough money for a lunch account, especially during SOL testing. (Unfortunately, there really isn’t any way for the PTO to identify these students. The school staff does work with families on such issues. The PTO could consider providing a snack during SOL testing for all students.)

Thank you for the suggestions on increasing volunteers.

And we really appreciated those who think we are doing a good job!