September 26, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 FLOW Area District taking survey of parents and students by Frank J. McMahon The Ramapo Indian Hills High School District is developing a strategic plan to help guide the future of secondary education in the FLOW (Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff) community, and parents and students are being asked to complete a survey regarding the schools and the student’s experience in the district. At the direction of Superintendent C. Lauren Schoen and Director of Curriculum Beverly MacKay, the surveys were posted on the district’s website until Sept. 14, and were due last week. Superintendent Schoen advised that the information gathered from the surveys will help develop action goals that are within the strategic plan and upon which the district wants to focus. She added that the survey results will allow the district to formulate those goals and the strategies to attain them. “As we begin to develop our plan,” Schoen said, “information from the surveys as they relate to the action goals will be discussed.” She anticipated that the discussions of the survey results would begin in late November. The anonymous surveys pertain to the educational program, facilities, technology, security, and the state of the community. Parents and students were asked to fill out the first two surveys separately, and adults 25 years of age and older were asked to fill out the state of the community survey. In the education survey, parents were asked for their opinions of the curriculum, the guidance department, and the special education services. They were also asked if they were district alumni, and to describe their children’s study habits. The parents were asked if they talk to their children about their learning goals and their responsibility for learning; whether they are satisfied with their children’s time management skills, and if their children had enough time after school to complete the studying and homework required. The survey also included questions about the feedback they receive, and their intentions to use SAT/ACT preparation courses, individual tutoring, test preparation workbooks, or online programs. Parents were also asked if they monitor their children’s grades through the Genesis program, and for their opinions about the district’s sports, clubs, and other activities. Parents were invited to provide suggestions about activities that could be optional for proms and Project Graduation. They were also asked if they participate in the parent/teacher organizations. The students were asked similar questions, but were also asked about the emphasis they place on classroom activities, and how regularly they participate in evaluating their own work or have a one-on-one conference with a teacher. They were also asked their opinion about grades, and whether assignments and tests improve their learning. On the facilities, school environment, and technology survey, parents were asked how safe they feel sending their children to school, their opinion of the nine period instruc- tional schedule, if their children enjoy going to school, and if the parents are pleased with the appearance and maintenance of the district’s facilities. Parents were asked if they believe the district is adequately utilizing technology for the 21st century, whether substance abuse is a widespread issue in the school community, if the athletic facilities are modern and up-to-date, if teachers work to foster a supportive climate for the students, and if the current disciplinary policies and procedures are fair and adequately enforced. Students were asked the same questions, with the addition of a question about bullying and cyber-bullying. On the state of the community survey, the adults were asked their gender, age, and hometown and whether they own a business in any of the three towns in the district. They were also asked if their children currently attend a public elementary school or the public high schools and, if not, what type of school they are attending. The parents were then asked to pick three of nine schoolrelated issues or concerns on which they would like to provide input.