Bedford Central School District

We're conducting a survey to learn more about people's attitudes concerning some important issues.
1. Students are often given the grades A, B, C, D, and Fail to denote the quality of their academic work.  Suppose the public schools across the State of New York were graded in the same way.  What grade would you give the public schools in the state - A, B, C, D, or Fail?
2. What about your local school district - Bedford Central School District.  What grade would you assign to your local school district - A, B, C, D, or Fail?
3. A Citizens Committee for Capital Planning has been working on a building improvement plan for Bedford Central School District. This work could result in a bond proposal for approximately $75 million appearing on the ballot sometime this academic year to fund facility improvements at every school. Is this proposal something you would strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose?
 
4. Next are statements that people might make about their local public schools.  For each, indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree when thinking about the Bedford Central School District.  The first is:  
 
  A. People move into this area because of the reputation of Bedford Central School District.
  B. People like me can't afford to pay higher property taxes, no matter how good the cause.
  C. The quality of our public schools is the most important factor protecting property values in this area.  
  D. We get excellent value in education for the taxes we pay to the Bedford Central School District.
  E. We need to keep our school buildings up-to-date and in good condition to protect our community's investment in those facilities.
  F. I'm willing to support an increase in taxes to make sure the quality of education in the Bedford Central School District measures up to that of other districts in our area
  G. I trust the Bedford Board of Education to make good decisions about the District's overall direction.
  H. We need to take whatever steps are necessary to renovate our schools buildings to accommodate up-to-date teaching, curriculum and instructional technologies.
 
5. For each of the following, please rate the job performance of the Bedford Central School District as excellent, good, not so good or poor.
 
  A. Maintaining a high quality teaching staff
  B. Spending tax dollars cost effectively
  C. Providing students and classrooms with up-to-date instructional technology
  D. Preparing students for college
  E. Maintaining safe and secure schools
  F. Accommodating the needs of a diverse student population
  G. Keeping up with the repair and maintenance of school buildings
 
6. A Citizens Committee has studied the condition of buildings in Bedford Central School District and discussed options for repair and renovation. Listed next is a list of possible improvements and their estimated cost. For each, rate it using a 7-point scale. If you think it should be a top priority, rate it a "7". If you think it a low priority, rate it a "1". Of course you can use any number between 7 - meaning a high priority - and a "1" - meaning a low priority.
                 
  A. Renovation of West Patent Elementary School including improvements to classrooms, library and cafeteria, adding flexible-use spaces for district programs, and building and site upgrades to remediate the building taking in ground and rainwater. The estimated cost is $35 million.                
  B. Scheduled replacement and renovation of the roofs throughout the district. The estimated cost is $8.6 million.                
  C. Renovating the 50-year-old science labs and adjacent areas at Fox Lane Middle School. The estimated cost is $3.8 million.                
  D. Remodeling of the entrance and main office area at Fox Lane Middle School to improve student visibility and enhance student safety and security. The estimated cost is $750,000.                
  E. Renovations to Fox Lane High School stadium including improvements to the track and multipurpose turf field. The track and turf were installed in 2002 paid for by community donations and tax dollars. Currently the track is in poor condition and cannot be used for track meets and the multi-purpose turf is at the end of its 10 year life-cycle and worn out. The estimated cost is $2.8 million.                
  F. Expansion of the Fox Lane Middle school cafeteria to eliminate over-crowding and long waits that result in students having too little time to eat. The estimated cost is $2.6 million.                
  G. Improvement of indoor air quality and building environments throughout the District. The estimated cost is $6.7 million.                
  H. Ensuring that the District's school buildings are energy efficient to reduce operational costs through window, lighting, mechanical and electrical system replacement. The estimated cost is $5.0 million.                
  I. Installation of air-conditioning to the three story academic wing and the science classrooms at the high school. The estimated cost is $1.1 million.                
 
7. Next are questions specifically about West Patent Elementary School which has not received any major improvements since built in 1970. As a result, many of the building's systems have far exceeded their useful life and the building is now taking in ground and rainwater.  Listed below are possible improvements to this school. Please rate each using a 7-point scale.  If you think the improvement should be a top priority, rate it a "7".  If you think it a low priority, rate it a "1".  Of course you can use any number between "7" and "1."
                 
  A. Eliminate water problems by improving water drainage, replacing the roof, windows, exterior brick, and other deteriorated building conditions. The estimated cost is $13.1 million.                
  B. Make renovations and improvements in classrooms and other instructional areas that will contribute to improved student performance. The estimated cost is $12.9 million.                
  C. Replace out-dated electric, plumbing and heating systems while improving energy efficiency, lowering operating costs and improving indoor air quality. The estimated cost is $1.6 million.                
  D. Improve and expand the library and cafeteria. The estimated cost is $5.4 million.D. Remodeling of the entrance and main office area at Fox Lane Middle School to improve student visibility and enhance student safety and security. The estimated cost is $750,000.                
8. The projected enrollment at West Patent Elementary School does not require additional classroom space at this time. The District is considering adding additional classroom and flexible-use space for other purposes at an estimated cost of $2.0 million. Again using the 7-point scale where "7" is a top priority and "1" is a low priority, evaluate the two following suggestions for enhancements to West Patent Elementary School.
                 
  A. Adding classroom spaces and flexible space to accommodate an increase in enrollment and/or other district programs.                
  B. Adding classroom spaces and flexible space to accommodate the District's required preschool program and for an expansion of early childhood education programs with possibilities for a District parent center.                
 
9. Some have suggested that rather than spend money to renovate West Patent, that it makes more sense to replace it on site with a new 700 student elementary building that might allow the District to consolidate two existing elementary schools into one building.  For purposes of this question, let's assume the cost of this approach is neutral.  Is this suggestion for a 700 student elementary school something you would strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose?
10. When it comes to building improvement plans, how important is including what are called green design features for energy efficiency and sustainability?  Would you say very important, moderately important, not very important or not at all important?
11. Some think green school building design features should be taken advantage of as an opportunity for students to learn about energy efficiency and sustainability. Is this something with which you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree?
12. Next are suggestions some people have made to improve the performance of Bedford Central School District. All of these would involve a higher financial cost to the District and would involve raising the tax levy to pay for the improvements. For each, let me know if you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose the proposal?
               
  A. Lower class sizes in the elementary schools              
  B. Lower class sizes in the middle school              
  C. Lower class sizes in the high school honors, Advanced Placement, and advanced level classes              
  D. Reduce the length of the longest bus routes for middle and high school students              
  E. Change the starting times for high school and middle school to later in the morning, with elementary starting times starting earlier in the morning              
  F. Lengthen the school day at the elementary level              
  G. Lengthen the school day at the middle and high school level              
  H. Add more innovative and unique classes and programs at the high school similar to what is offered in Science Research, Model Congress, unique arts and music classes, low enrollment upper level classes and others              
13. Generally speaking, do you think the amount of standardized testing required by the state is too much, about right, or that there is not enough state required testing?
14. There are many ways to measure a student's learning. For each of the following, indicate if you think it is very valuable, moderately valuable, not very valuable or not at all valuable in terms of measuring a student's learning.
           
  A. Graded home work          
  B. Grades on student projects, experiments, essays, and other classroom work          
  C. Teacher designed tests          
  D. State standardized tests          
 
15. When it comes to providing a measure about how well an entire school is performing, do you think scores on state standardized tests are very valuable, moderately valuable, not very valuable, or not at all valuable in terms of indicating how an entire school is performing.
16. Earlier you responded to questions about facility improvements and a possible bond vote for Bedford Central School District. I'm going to read some statements people might make about these improvements. For each, indicate if you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.  
           
  A. It's been ten years since we've passed a capital improvement bond proposal for our school buildings and it only makes sense that it is time to do so again. We need to make these improvements to protect our community's investment in our schools.          
  B. Our buildings are fine. We don't need to spend this kind of money on them.          
  C. I could support a building improvement program that would cost approximately $350 a year for 20 years, or about a dollar a day, in higher property taxes.          
  D. In its ongoing program to keep buildings in good condition, the district has performed major improvements and repairs to all of its buildings but West Patent Elementary.  It makes sense to address West Patent now.          
  E. A $75 million bond proposal will put a lot of construction people to work. This project is important because it will create jobs for our area.          
  F. Given the nature of the economy, this is just not a good time to ask taxpayers to support a building improvement plan.          
 
17. Now that you've answered a lot of questions, please consider once again a possible proposal to place a bond issue on an upcoming ballot.  Having completed a thorough study of its school buildings, a Citizens Committee has recommended that the District initiate a renovation and repair schedule to take place over the next 10 years at a cost of approximately $75 million.  If a $75 million bond proposal appeared on an upcoming ballot, would you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose such a measure?
And now, a few final questions for classification purposes
18. Please indicate which describes you best:
18.a If you are a student, which school do you attend?
19. If you are a resident of the Bedford Central School District, do any children under the age of eighteen live in your household?
19.a Do any of these children attend...? (check all that apply)
19.b And which school do you or your child(ren) attend?
20. How long have you lived within the Bedford Central School District?
21. In which of the following age groups are you?
22. Please indicate which of the following categories best represents your total household income, before taxes, for 2011?  
23. For statistical purposes only, we'd like to know your ethnicity.  
24. Gender
25.

That completes our survey.  Thank you for your time and cooperation.
 
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