Dear Eatontown Public Schools Community Member:
Eatontown Public Schools will once again be conducting School Climate Surveys during the 2024-2025 school year using the New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJ SCI) Survey to help obtain multiple perspectives on aspects of our schools' climates. Collecting data is important for understanding strengths and needs in our schools and how it feels to be a member of the school community. The survey is anonymous and it is voluntary.
Beginning March 17th, parents/caregivers will receive emails with a unique link to the appropriate survey for their school. Parents/caregivers with students in more than one school may receive more than one survey, and we ask that you take the survey once per school and answer the survey questions with each specific school in mind. You may submit a separate survey per child within the same building if you feel their experiences are different, but this is not required. The survey is available in 33 languages.
Students in grades 3-8 will be asked to complete the survey during school hours. The survey will be administered electronically, and staff members will be available to assist students. Students may opt out themselves, or parents/caregivers may opt their students out by contacting the main office of the school.
The results will be used to help create a plan to address school climate needs and make improvements in each of the schools. The results of the 2023-2024 School Climate Survey revealed some areas for improvement. Students, staff members, and parents/caregivers all felt the schools could do a better job with students' interpersonal behaviors, and our staff believe that we need to provide more organizational resources and supports. Staff members and parents/caregivers also agreed that we could do more to provide support and engagement for families.
As a result, the district created a Family Education Resources page on our website where parents/caregivers can go to find educational materials to help their students understand the lessons they are learning in school. Each of the schools also hosted Family Education Nights throughout the 2024-2025 school year where families can attend and learn about different subjects each time. Each school now has a School Equity Team which includes staff, students, and parents/caregivers and gives a voice to all stakeholders in our school community. The schools also introduced Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiatives to promote positive behaviors among students. Finally, the district has provided new training opportunities to staff members to support staff with student behaviors and help staff create engaging lessons for students.
As we look forward to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, the district plans to continue making improvements in these areas and address new areas of concern that may arise, as well as strengthen the areas of school climate in which the schools are doing well. The voices of our students, parents/caregivers, and staff are all important to us, and the opinions of each group will help us to address current priorities. By participating in the 2024-2025 School Climate Survey, you can be a part of this important work.
Additional information can be found on the district website at www.eatontown.org/page/schoolclimate. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Scott T. McCue
Superintendent of Schools