Hillcrest Enrollment Planning

K-7 Survey

June 6, 2007

Dear Parents of Students at Hillcrest:

As you know, the Long Range Planning Committee on enrollment issues for Hillcrest began its work on May 29, 2007. As was indicated in the minutes of the first meeting, the Committee elected to defer setting its goals until some basic data had been gathered. Three subcommittees have been formed, a Demand Issues Subcommittee, a Supply Issues Subcommittee and a Best Practices Subcommittee. Please read the minutes from the May 29th meeting (pdf) to get the details on what these subcommittees will do.

You are being contacted now through your caucus representatives to help with gathering some of the most basic data that the Committee needs to do its work — that is, what are the families' intentions regarding enrollment for children currently enrolled at Hillcrest. The link provided below will take you to the very brief survey we have prepared. We hope you will provide in a survey response your most likely prediction of the highest grade each of your children will complete at Hillcrest and to let us know what degree of confidence you have in your response. We know that it is a pretty tall order to predict what you will do in the future, but we are asking for an honest assessment of your intentions so we may evaluate trends in enrollment. Do not fear that an indication that you will leave after a particular grade will be viewed as a commitment to do so. The survey can be completed anonymously and the information will be evaluated on an aggregate basis, not by individual.

We are using an online survey tool called "Survey Monkey," which consolidates and analyzes the data. The site is secure and access is limited to the committee member with the password. Individual responses will not be available to the school/district. We know that you will do your best to predict what most likely will happen with respect to your child(ren), recognizing that your answer is not binding on your future decisions. The utility of this survey in helping ensure the best planning possible for our school is critically dependent on the accuracy of your responses.

Important Note: Please complete and submit the survey for each child of yours based on their grade level during the 2007-2008 school year. That means that if you have 2 children, you will complete the survey and submit it. Then, you will return to the survey to enter the answers for your second child and submit that set of answers. If your child is in any grade from K through 7th for the 2006-07 school year, but you have decided not to return to Hillcrest for the 2007-2008 school year, please complete the survey anyway so that we can estimate the attrition rate between this year and next.

Go to the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=V8cXB5YHlvTD2KckCEiCgQ%3d%3d.

Separate Survey Coming for Children Entering K in 2008 or Later: There will be a separate survey (to be distributed in the coming 10 days or so) pertaining to children not currently enrolled in Hillcrest (i.e., any child who would enter K in 2008 or later). If you have a child(ren) currently at Hillcrest and also a child(ren) who will enter K in 2008 or later, please complete the current survey only for the child(ren) in the school as of 2007. Please wait for the "future students survey" to answer the questions for your younger child(ren).

Paper Copies Available: If you do not want to fill out the survey on line, you can fill out a hardcopy – copies of the survey will be located in the school office beginning June 6. There will be an envelope for you to deposit your response. Please keep in mind that we really prefer an online response if at all possible. If you know someone who does not have internet access, please let your caucus representative know so that he or she can contact that person and ask them to fill out the survey manually.

Deadline: The current graphical results represent an 80% response rate as of June 26. Your input is valuable and you may still complete the survey.

Questions? Ask your caucus representative (Click here for the Contact list).

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance. We all really appreciate it!

Sincerely,

The Demand Issues Subcommittee