Lawrence Township now analyzing data from massive effort to find out what stakeholders want

With the direction of the school board, Lawrence Township sought stakeholder input during the Fall of 2007 through the Center for Leadership & Learning as well as the Survey Research Center at IUPUI.  This extensive effort to gain input from the community is unique at this scale.  Stakeholders representing all areas of our community and all demographics were represented.

•       95 Focus groups were held with over 550 participants

•       1022 Participants on the phone survey

•       431 Participants on the written survey

•       442 Participants on the online survey

Major Themes & Trends Emerged in Planning for Future School Years:
Choice
Communication
Cultural Competence
Discipline
ESL
Professional Development
Diversity

This process consisted of focus groups, written surveys, online surveys and phone surveys.    The process began in an effort to balance the school enrollments.   Currently, Lawrence Township only had 4 schools within the acceptable range of enrollment based on the School Board policy (7.120).
3 of 11 Elementary Schools
1 of 3 Middle Schools
0 of the 2 High Schools
A committee was formed and met during the 06-07 school year with the following goal:
The ultimate goal in the committee’s mind was to provide greater opportunities for choice through expansion of the special program themes or strands that currently exist at the elementary level, not to limit them.  The principles that include greater opportunities for choice for everyone, elementary schools in an east-west boundary configuration, neighborhoods closest to the school served by that school if desired, and expansion of special program themes in east and west side elementary schools.

In summary, there is broad support for an expansion of choice program across the district.  The school board will review the recommendations in collaboration with district staff and continue to communicate with stakeholders.    For the full reports please access the district website at www.ltschools.org.