An online survey to seek ways at improving schools within Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools has been deemed a success.
Trustees will review suggestions that were put forward by students, staff and parents during the online engagement initiative, ‘Your School. Your Voice,’ held in November 2012.
More than 280 people submitted more than 400 ideas and put forward over 1,600 comments.
Board vice-chair Guy Pelletier said the board was extremely pleased with the response.
“Stakeholder input is so critical to ensuring the needs of our students and their families,” said Pelletier in a news release.
“The online engagement model addressed many traditional barriers in reaching our constituents.”
The ideas submitted are rich and cover a very broad spectrum, from teaching and learning models and technologies used, to communications, facility enhancement and extra-curricular activities.
Ten ideas with the highest number of comments were: changing Monday professional day, schools giving Internet tools as potential programs, bringing back afternoon recess, acknowledging all learners, using iPads in class, making classrooms more inviting, having more choices in canteen at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School, individualizing teaching, allowing students to have longer lunches, and having more buses. Some ideas with the lowest number of net positive votes included changing the Red Deer Catholic logo and having school uniforms.
The board will review the report in detail at its March retreat and report back to the community, said Pelletier.
A comprehensive summary of the ideas and comments is available online at www.rdcrd.ab.ca under Plans and Reports.