Clarkston Community Schools earned high marks in its latest survey.
In the telephone survey of 403 residents, taken in February, 20.9 percent said staff and teacher quality were ‘particularly good.? Another 10.4 percent said curriculum and program quality came to mind when asked.
Also, 86.1 percent said teachers are well qualified and 77.6 percent said teachers are enthusiastic about helping students learn. Both are higher than in 2006, the last time the survey was given. Eighty-one percent felt the school district has high academic standards for students.
The district’s single biggest problem for respondents was the budget, with 16.9 percent, followed by lack of state funding, with 14 percent.
If respondents were able to improve the district in one way, 4.2 percent said they would strengthen academics while 3.2 percent would improve communication.
Most respondents said they were informed about CCS, with 48.2 percent saying they were pretty well informed, 33.9 percent saying they were somewhat informed, and 17.8 percent, not informed.
The four major sources respondents received their information were from newletters with 13.7 percent, The Clarkston News and e-Blasts, both 11.9 percent, and friends/neighbors, 11.4 percent.
Survey results were averaged together to obtain a general picture of what residents think about the district. The results were also examined according to parents, respondents with school-aged children, and non-parents, respondents without school-aged children. Similar surveys were given in 2006, 2001, 1987 and 1983.
“Volunteers were recruited to make random phone calls to CCS residents. Each volunteer was trained to follow strict guidelines,” said Superintendent Dr. Rod Rock.
He explained phone numbers were provided by a third-party company. From the list volunteers had access to 4,000 numbers and a total of 403 surveys were conducted.
Dawn Schaller, Independence Township resident, asked if the district paid for the list.
“My husband was one of the volunteers,” Schaller said. “Volunteers were told someone was paid to come up with the list. A large percentage of numbers were for Brandon School district, some a lot in the same subdivision.?
The survey was filled with leading questions, Schaller said.
‘The survey and questions leaned towards what the district wanted to say,? she said. ‘I don’t think the survey should be used to justify anything.”
The surveys were sent to Oakland Schools for tabulation. The data was sent back and Linda Zara, communications and marketing coordinator, analyzed the data and created graphs, an executive summary, and a power point presentation, Rock said.
“The survey sought opinions about the district’s strengths and weaknesses, sources of school information, the curriculum, school financing and more,” Zara said.
Respondents agreed the district offers a high quality education, with 81.4 percent percent believing the district has high academic standards for students. Seventy-nine percent also said the district offers a well disciplined learning environment where students know what is expected of them.
Respondents were given the opportunity to grade the district, 45.5 percent of parents gave the district an “A” while 43.9 percent of parents gave the district a “B.”
While 52.2 percent of respondents with no school-aged children in the district gave a “B” grade and 30 percent believed the district deserved an “A.”
District residents rated their schools 51 percentage points higher than the national A and B rating public schools received in the latest survey conducted by the 42nd Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools.
After giving their grade the respondents were asked why they felt the district should be given the particular grade.
Forty-eight respondents chose the option of other instead of the other 10 options including: don’t listen, financial problems/lack of funds, poor academic program, staff apathy, administration, board of education, junior high program, high school program, space issues/overcrowding and CSMTech program.
“We really didn’t capture why they wanted to give us that grade,” said Joan Patterson, board trustee. “My concern is it seems to be very valuable information.”
Zara added volunteers conducting the surveys were instructed to write down answers not included amongst the options.
“If they didn’t write it down, no information was provided,” she said.
Patterson asked if there was a way they could see the surveys because it was valuable information to have. Zara explained the district has them in a box available to look at.
Other questions for which respondents chose “other” regarded single problem facing Clarkston Community Schools and anything particularly good about Clarkston Community Schools.
Most respondents support leadership of the district, with 63.3 percent believe the district is efficiently run and 48.4 percent agreeing the board has a strong leadership. Most respondents also agreed school administrators are interested in opinions of residents, with 68.9 percent agreeing and 16.7 percent disagreeing.
Patterson asked if any additional information was given for the questions asking if respondents agreed, disagreed, or didn’t know.
“Maybe in the future find a way to capture it so we know what we are missing,” she added. “It is an excellent way to find out information and capture soemthing we are missing.”
The next steps include reviewing the results and comparing with long-term planning and goals, sharing with the staff and determining if follow-up surveys are needed with specific parent and student groups.
For a look at the complete survey, check www.clarkston.k12.mi.us.

A recent report proves Clarkston residents want the city to retain its own fulltime police department.
So says the Clarkston Police Service Committee, who last month released certified results of an independent audit conducted by Intellitrends, a local marketing firm.
The audit was commissioned after the committee’s 2007 findings, along with the city council’s subsequent decision to maintain the police department, were called into question with suggestions of again looking to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office for midnight policing.
The audit, completed in May 2008 and presented to the city council in June, looked at the survey sent to city home and business owners in 2007.
According an overview presented with the audit, each question was reviewed, and the survey appeared to be without ‘any bias in question structure that would confuse or lead respondents to answer a specific way.?
In addition, all responses were reviewed, computer input, re-verified, tabulated and analyzed. Intellitrends was not provided with background information regarding objectives, purpose or potential outcomes of the survey.
‘This should answer any doubts about what Clarkston citizens, who responded to the police committee’s survey, wanted as Police services and by whom,? said Tom Stone, a member of the police committee in a recent letter to The Clarkston News.
According to the audit, about 60 percent of respondents preferred an independent, fulltime Clarkston Police Department.
A copy of the report may be obtained from the city office at 375 Depot Road. Call 248-625-1559 for more information.
-Laura Colvin

The good news: cigarette, alcohol and other drug use is lower than average among younger Clarkston students.
The bad news: drug use goes up as students get older.
‘It’s alarming, even when they’re below the state numbers,? said Dr. Al Roberts, superintendent. ‘There are a number of issues we can deal with as a school district.?
Carla Teare, Clarkston High School teacher and Reproductive Health Advisory Council member, presented findings of the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth, called MiPHY, Jan. 28, to the Board of Education
The online, anonymous student survey asked questions about drug use, violence, nutrition, sex, school, and family.
‘I found it opens up dialogue,? said board Secretary Joan Patterson, who has met with parent groups about the survey. ‘It’s a nice opportunity for parents to compare with what they hear at home.?
Developed by Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Department of Community Health, it surveyed 297 seventh-grade students, 326 ninth-graders, and 324 juniors at the high school.
This is Clarkston’s second year of participation.
‘We have two years of data to review and determine progress,? Teare said.
‘It’s important to continue to measure the success of the program or the lack thereof, and modify them so they make sense,? Roberts said.
As a result of the survey, the council, school staff and parent groups organized a series of community programs, Teare said.
‘Parents are the first line of defense,? she said.
Upcoming programs include:
? The Minds Program, 1-2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Clarkston High School’s Large Group Instruction room. Heather Irish, founder and CEO of the non-profit Mental Illness Needs Discussion program, will promote awareness of teen mental health issues;
? Bill Sanders, motivational speaker, will talk to parents and teens about family communications, values, and good decisions, 7 p.m., Thursday, March 6, at Clarkston High School Performing Arts Center;
? For Parents and Guardians Only, with Kenneth Krygel, Drug recognition, Macomb Community College and Criminal Justice Training Center, will demonstrate and talk about drugs and teens, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, Clarkston Junior High School LGI room.
Sashabaw Middle School also started an anti-bullying initiative focusing on awareness and empowerment, in addition to its punitive measures.

An online poll in the weather section of the Clarkston High School website shows 52 percent of voters think the Steelers will win the big game.
Of 462 total votes at press time, 242 were pulling for Pittsburgh while 220 were sympathetic to the Seahawks.
To vote go to www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/education/school/school.php and click on the weather link.