VERMONT SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION

2003 Membership Survey

LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
NAME (Optional)

1. Gender:
2. Age:
3. Educational background:
4. Nature of Work home maker business person educator other professional
mark all that apply retail service self-employed other:
5. Do you have children? If yes, do (or did) they attend public school private school
6. Do you use a computer? If yes, indicate how you use the computer:
word processing e-mail other applications
spreadsheets Internet Palm Pilot
7. Type of school board:
8. Length of service as a school board member
9. Reason for running for the school board:
10. Have you taken part in any school board education/development within the last 3 years?
If no, please indicate your primary reason for not taking part in school board training
11. Describe your biggest challenge as a school board member:
12. Please indicate the topics on which you think general workshops should be offered:
1= a must 2=maybe 3=not important
1 2 3 1 2 3
action planning No Child Left Behind
administrator evaluation policy development
advanced board member training program evaluation
board self-assessment running effective meetings
board member orientation school finance/Act 60
budgeting school law for board members
clarifying leadership roles special education
communications/public relations strategic planning
curriculum and standards student assessments
negotiations supt/school board role
Other topics of interest:
13. Our board is discussing: 1=frequently 2=occasionally 3=never(number below)
I know enough about these issues to make decisions: Y = yes N = no
# Y N # Y N
action planning school choice
assessments - state/local school consolidation
cost control school maintenance/construction
graduation requirements school safety
hazing and harassment special education
increasing parent/community involvement technical education, school-to-work
longer school year teacher evaluation
racism, diversity issues technology in schools
school board consolidation
Other
14. Does your board include student members?
If yes describe how the student(s) are selected:
15. Does your district encourage teachers to attain National Board Certification?
If yes, describe support - financial and other:

16. Does your school operate an alternative program for students who don't succeed in traditional school setting?
If yes, describe support - financial and other:

17. Does your school carry advertisements for products either on-line, in school or
on playing fields?
18. My salary as a board member is per year; or per meeting.
19. Has your board called on VSBA to work directly with your board on strategic planning, board self-assessment or other such activities?
If yes, characterize your satisfaction with that interaction and describe the nature of that work

20. Has your supervisory union/district utilized VSBA's superintendent/principal search services?
If yes, please characterize your satisfaction with that search

21. Does your board take advantage of VSBIT insurance programs available to VSBA
members?
22. Does your board take advantage of the online recruitment system available to
VSBA members?
23. My district would be interested in a prepaid legal service that would give us ready access to legal advice from attorneys experienced in representing school districts. yes no
If yes, we have the most need for advice in the following areas: (check as many as apply)
special education
personnel (employment) issues
contract issues
bidding issues
other
24. In my school district, the number of teacher aides or paraprofessionals could be reduced without significantly affecting the quality of education.
25. In my school district, the number of teachers could be reduced without significantly affecting the quality of education.
26. I think there are opportunities to consolidate certain administrative functions on a regional basis with other supervisory unions.
27. I think there are opportunities to share programs among schools on a regional or statewide basis.
28. In my school district, the school building(s) need major renovations to comply with health, safety and handicapped access codes.
29. Teachers are evaluated regularly in my district.
30. Administrators are evaluated regularly in my district.
31. There is potential in my supervisory union/district for better management and containment of special education costs.
32. The school quality standards are helping my school district improve education.
33. I am aware of incidents of harassment (based on race, gender, disability, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status) in my district.
34. I am aware of incidents of hazing (based on initiation or joining an organization or team)occurring in my district.
35. I believe that my school district responds quickly and appropriately to incidents of hazing; harassment.