1 2014 “In Common” Listening Tour Report Monroe Public Schools conducted the In Common Listening Tour to listen to the community’s perceptions, thoughts, and visions for the future of Monroe school facilities. The tour included 57 events from August to November 2014 with participation ranging from a city park‐full at Night Out Against Crime to a handful at a community service club meeting. A cumulative total of almost 500 individuals shared their insights in formal “listens” with hundreds of others reviewing or commenting at “booth”‐type events that did not allow for a group presentation. By gathering various perspectives from the community, the district has developed a better understanding of its community’s wishes in how to improve schools and support facilities. In addition to the face‐to‐face events, an online Listening Tour using the ThoughtExchange process was also held. See attached for feedback from that process. As a result, Monroe Public Schools hopes to move forward with community support to further develop these community relationships established throughout the Listening Tour with improving facilities as resources allow. PROCEDURE The community was invited to share its thoughts on Monroe Public Schools’ facilities as part of the “In Common” Listening Tour. Contact was made with families, school booster groups, community organizations, and local businesses to encourage hosting a tour. As a result, almost 6 6 29 15 1 0 10 20 30 40 Nuimber of Groups Consulted Listening Tour Events Business Community Families
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2014 “In Common” Listening Tour Report
Monroe Public Schools conducted the In Common Listening Tour to listen to the community’s
perceptions, thoughts, and visions for the future of Monroe school facilities. The tour included
57 events from August to November 2014 with participation ranging from a city park‐full at
Night Out Against Crime to a handful at a community service club meeting. A cumulative total
of almost 500 individuals shared their insights in formal “listens” with hundreds of others
reviewing or commenting at “booth”‐type events that did not allow for a group presentation.
By gathering various perspectives from the community, the district has developed a better
understanding of its community’s wishes in how to improve schools and support facilities. In
addition to the face‐to‐face
events, an online Listening Tour
using the ThoughtExchange
process was also held. See
attached for feedback from that
process.
As a result, Monroe Public Schools
hopes to move forward with
community support to further
develop these community
relationships established throughout the Listening Tour with improving facilities as resources
allow.
PROCEDURE
The community was invited to share its thoughts on Monroe Public Schools’ facilities as part of
the “In Common” Listening Tour. Contact was made with families, school booster groups,
community organizations, and local businesses to encourage hosting a tour. As a result, almost
6 6
29
15
10
10
20
30
40
Nuim
ber of Groups Consulted
Listening Tour Events
Business Community Families
2
60 sessions were held during four months. Those consulted include families, civic groups,
community members, local businesses, Monroe Public Schools’ staff, and students. Meetings
were held at schools, parks, and various local sites.
One or more school board representative(s) and a district representative were present to listen
to the community’s feedback and record responses. The participants were specifically
encouraged to share their views of Monroe Public Schools’ facilities in relation to the recent
recommendations from the Capital Facilities Planning Committee. In addition, community
members were asked what might be missing from the Committee’s recommendations as well
as being encouraged to offer other advice or suggestions. This facilities‐focused Listening Tour
followed an online Listening Tour using the ThoughtExchange process where advice and
suggestions were received about the district’s strengths and opportunities to improve. See
attached.
KEY FINDINGS
As a result of the “In Common” Listening Tour, the projects suggested by the Capital Facilities
Planning Committee gaining the most support should the School Board put a bond before
voters are ranked below. The project ranked as number one has the highest priority based on
returned feedback forms. While not all of the items ranked were included in the Facilities
Committee’s work, these were the top responses.
1. Modernize Park Place Middle
2. Consolidate & expand Frank Wagner Elementary
3. Catch up on Small Capital/Major Maintenance
4. Build all‐weather ball fields at Monroe High School
5. Expand Hidden River Middle School
6. Modernize/expand Salem Woods Elementary School
7. Reduce use of portable classrooms
8. Improve technology
9. Replace roof at Chain Lake Elementary
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Modernizing Park Place Middle School was the top priority for all groups leading all other
recommendations by a 3‐1 margin ahead of the second ranked project ‐ consolidating and
expanding Frank Wagner Elementary School. Catching up on small capital and major
maintenance projects followed Frank Wagner by a handful of responses. Building all‐weather
ball fields at Monroe High School was closely followed by expanding Hidden River Middle
School. Modernizing/expand Salem Woods rose higher than the committee’s recommended list
but total cost is still a factor to “listeners” in their desire to maintain the current bond tax rate.
Missing from the list
The following ideas were cited most often when responding to “what is missing from the list” of
recommendations from the Capital Facilities Committee. The list below is ranked in order of
how often the suggestion was mentioned. Note that some suggestions were “tied” in their
rankings.
It is clear more communication is needed to inform about the expected outcomes from the
recently approved Technology Levy. It is interesting to note that of all the groups to participate
in the face‐to‐face Listening Tour, the students in the Monroe High School ASB class provided
the most suggestions. It is strongly recommended that the School Board re‐visit that group with
the results of this Listening Tour and to seek feedback on other initiatives.