District-Wide Survey Results Show Strong Support for New Hales Corners Elementary School

A majority of Whitnall School District residents would likely support a referendum that addresses safety concerns, handicap-accessibility issues, maintenance problems and today’s teaching strategy needs at Hales Corners Elementary, according to the results of a district-wide facilities needs survey conducted last month.

The survey results were shared with the Whitnall School Board during a special School Board meeting Dec. 8. Nearly 1,650 residents and staff, an 18 percent response rate, responded to the survey, designed and administered by School Perceptions, an independent research firm from Slinger, Wis. with expertise in conducting community surveys.

Among the survey highlights were:

• 63 percent of non-staff resident respondents expressing an opinion would likely support a referendum to address the needs at Hales Corners Elementary, while 18 percent were undecided;
• Building a new Hales Corners Elementary school was the top choice among the three options presented in the survey, slightly edging out the renovation of the current elementary school building.
• 64 percent of non-staff resident respondents would probably or definitely support addressing maintenance needs and energy efficiency projects at Whitnall High School and Edgerton Elementary;
• The swimming pool/weight room/locker room project received 51 percent support among all residents, including 62 percent of parent residents;
• and, 87 percent of parents and 64 percent of non-parents feel Whitnall’s communication efforts over the last year have been somewhat or very effective. The overall communication score improved over the last survey results collected in 2013.

“We’re very pleased with the number of community members and staff that felt it was important to take the survey,” Superintendent Dr. Lowell E. Holtz said. “Community feedback is a crucial part of the process as we investigate ways to make our schools better for all the families and employees who choose Whitnall.”

The survey was mailed to all district residents in early November. Residents were encouraged to take the survey online, and additional online access codes were distributed as needed. The survey closed Nov. 24.

The School Board and district administration has been studying the facility needs of Hales Corners Elementary and Whitnall’s other schools for years, including extensively over the last year. The School Board will now assess this important community feedback as they consider next steps for addressing Whitnall’s critical facility needs.

The complete survey report is available online at www.whitnall.com in the “News & Announcements” section.