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School Climate Research should be much more than “taking the temperature”

The “go-to” diagnostic for public education professionals who sense more than a modicum of uneasiness, unhappiness, uncertainty (or any combination of these characteristics) among teachers and staff has become climate research. Seen as a scientific way to determine if, in fact, there is fire where smoke is seen, climate studies are all the rage, because of the opportunity to give staff members a confidential spot to vent.

Unfortunately, many times, the result of climate studies is the equivalent of going to a doctor for a bronchial issue and walking out with a prescription for an antibiotic. A cursory exam room review of symptoms by even the most skilled medical practitioner can only address today’s complaint. It doesn’t go far enough to determine if something more systemic might be at work – something where a different course of treatment would produce a better long-term result.

Akin to an MRI, effective climate research determines the existence of issues below the surface complaints, while creating a baseline result for comparison in future years.

Such an approach also protects the school district from inadvertently sending out a study to its staff with questions that read like a witch hunt. In essence, if you are using climate research primarily to chase down a rumor or feeling of instability, it’s pretty hard to not write questions that sound like, “Do you think most people trust the superintendent?”

To avoid such clumsiness and to maximize the value of your investment in climate research, consider the following:

As always, begin with the end in mind. Our first question for any study – climate, resident, parent, etc. – is, “When we are done with this research, what do you need to know to make any decisions you need to make?” Writing questions needs to wait, until you are certain of the research data you are looking to secure.

Eliminate the “I’m just curious” topics. Research that is self-administered – meaning you have to rely on the willingness of your target audience to take the time to participate – needs to be focused and targeted. If you’re “just curious” about something, but have no plans to do anything meaningful with that data, you’re making your survey longer than it needs to be.

Statements are better than questions. All the promises of confidentiality can’t overcome a question like, “Do you trust the School Board?” Put yourself in the place of the respondent. If there is even a hint of a trust issue, would you feel comfortable speaking your mind on something like that? Seeking agreement or disagreement on statements – and taking the “I” and “you” out of the language – makes it easier for respondents to share their thoughts.

Want to know more about climate studies? Please contact Rick Nobles at rick@patroninsight.com.

Tax elections that win

If you were a physician, would you treat a patient without a diagnosis? If you were an attorney, would you start a trial before reviewing the evidence? If you were a student, would you take an exam before studying?

Of course, not! 

Often, though, we see hospitals, school districts, libraries, fire districts and other taxing entities routinely trying to pass tax initiatives without doing their homework. 

And it’s almost always a recipe for failure. 

To win a tax election, you need to start with more than a guess. You need to start with research that will tell you what people want – and what they don’t want or what they are not willing to pay. Research also provides a road map for your campaign, spelling out the messaging you need to use to motivate people to vote, “Yes.” 

Hosting community forums, doing online surveys or conducting a few focus groups will not provide statistically accurate research. While those research methods can provide you with good “voice-of-the-customer” information, you need to conduct a random-dial, geographically dispersed telephone survey to get statistically viable results. 

At Patron Insight, we work with clients routinely who use the random-dial method to conduct research that provides a plus/minus error factor of no more than 5 percent. 

Read here to learn what we discovered for the Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Mo., to prep them for a zero-tax-increase bond initiative coming up on April 4.    

Nine years in, Patron Insight says, "Thank you"

April 2 marks the ninth anniversary of the founding of Patron Insight, Inc. (although our team has been working with school districts many more years than that). 

On this occasion, it’s important to note how much we have changed, thanks to the great school districts we have had the opportunity to serve. From working in three states in 2008 to 13 today, our school-based client list now exceeds 135. Our team has grown, expanding our skill set, and our services list has grown, too, to include, among others, Project Lighthouse, strategic planning and communications audits.

“We are so thankful for our growth,” said Ken DeSieghardt, CEO/partner. “But we are even more thankful to have the opportunity to go to work every day with the professionals who serve students in public education.”


Patron Insight Team

Ken DeSieghardt
Ken DeSieghardt
816-225-0668

Rick Nobles
Rick Nobles
913-484-0920

Craig Larson
Dr. Craig Larson
314-267-6992

Dennis Fisher
Dr. Dennis Fisher
816-392-7387

Marsha Chappelow
Dr. Marsha Chappelow
314-910-7401

Elaine M. Warren
816-699-4921

Susan Nenonen
Susan Nenonen
913-481-7080

The Trust Project

“The amount of tangible, measurable evidence of trust is lowest among the three stakeholder groups whose trust is considered to be most important – current district parents, current students and staff members.”

Nationwide Trust Project survey of 405 public education leaders, such as Board Members, Superintendents and School Communications Directors. For a free copy of the Trust Project report, please contact the study’s author, Ken DeSieghardt, CEO/partner of Patron Insight, Inc. 913-814-7626 or ken@patroninsight.com.

Patron Insight, Inc. 
19733 Birch Street
Stilwell, KS 66085
Office: 913-814-7626 
Fax: 913-814-3864 
info@patroninsight.com


Patron Insight, Inc.
19733 Birch Street • Stilwell, KS 66085
PatronInsight.com
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