More public input is needed in C.R. superintendent search

Now is the time for residents in the Cedar Rapids Community School District to begin weighing in on the district’s search for a new superintendent.

A recent district newsletter announced a survey of families, community members and district staff to collect information on the “desired characteristics of the new superintendent.”

The survey can be found here.

We understand how a district communication might get lost in families day-to-day hustle, we’re encouraging all community members to take the survey. A low participation survey won’t tell the district much about how the community truly sees the district and its needs.

That said, the survey leaves much to be desired. Its questions are very broad and may not get at, precisely, what opinions community members want to communicate. Survey respondents are asked whether they strongly disagree, disagree, neither agree nor disagree, agree or strongly agree with a series of statements about the district.

Among them:

“The district is headed in the right direction.”

“The district has high performance standards for all students.”

“District schools are safe.”

“The social and emotional needs are being addressed.”

“There is transparent communication in the district.”

“The district is fiscally responsible.”

“The district employs effective teachers, administrators and support staff in its schools.”

Important issues, to be sure. But it’s easy to see how this format limits the community’s ability to offer more substantial assessments of district needs.

The district deserves credit for seeking input. But we think, along with the survey, the district should offer listening posts or some other in-person format to receive public input. Conversations between district leaders and staff with residents likely would yield more meaningful perspectives.

Too often, local governmental entities, not just the school district, treat public input as a box to be checked off as simply part of a process for moving decisions forward. It should be seen a far more important and fundamental part of making government decisions. After all, it’s the public that pays the bill. At stake for parents is the education of their children.

So the public should complete the survey. And the district should provide venues to fill in the details behind those opinions.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com