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Survey of Rural School Leaders on the question of:

Survey of Rural School Leaders on the question of:. Do we need a rural DPI office?. Background. One of the priorities from the 1/04 Rural Forum participants was to establish an office focused on rural areas outside of the Madison area.

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Survey of Rural School Leaders on the question of:

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  1. Survey of Rural School Leaders on the question of: Do we need a rural DPI office?

  2. Background • One of the priorities from the 1/04 Rural Forum participants was to establish an office focused on rural areas outside of the Madison area. • To clarify, the State Superintendent charged a team of 3 DPI staff members to survey a representative sample of rural school leaders.

  3. Survey Purpose • The purpose of the survey was to see if the need for a rural presence was evident. • Survey focus on: • Services and programs that would be improved (or increased) if DPI had a broader presence outside of Madison; and/or • Improve communications and connections, and increase access to information and services to rural schools and communities through existing personnel and resources.

  4. Findings Summary - Themes • Distance from Madison - 150 miles and or Highway 8 barrier = Rural – Rural Districts • Existing Relationship to DPI • Resource Broker • Face to Face • Use of Technology • Rural Office vs. Rural Presence

  5. Findings Summary –Distance from Madison • Survey found a significant difference in responses from school leaders who could drive to Madison and back in a day vs. those that needed to stay overnight. • Respondents from rural-rural districts, north of Highway 8, feel that their influence on DPI in the legislative, policy, and budget process is less.

  6. Ludeman Rural-Rural Adams Ashland Crawford Florence Forest Iron Jackson Juneau Oneida Price Rusk Sawyer Vilas Highway 8 150 Miles • Adjusted Includes • Bayfield • North Marinette • Burnett • Washburn

  7. Findings Summary – Existing Relationship to DPI • Respondents overwhelmingly indicated they are satisfied or very satisfied with DPI’s responses to their phone or email requests. • School leaders from rural-rural districts note difficulty building long-term relationships with DPI staff due to few face-to-face opportunities resulting from the distance/geography.

  8. Findings Summary –Resource Broker • Most respondents have a contact at DPI – someone they know personally and that is where they start. • Survey Quote: “If I were to describe what it is that might be needed in rural communities, I might call it a resource broker; that is a person or office that provides easy access for local rural superintendents and does the digging for them …finding the program person … even finding the answer to a challenge”.

  9. Findings Summary –Face-to-Face • Respondents agreed it would be helpful to have a ‘DPI staff person’ that lives in the general area, understands the larger rural community, is able to attend CESA meetings, and to communicate the rural-rural message to DPI cabinet.

  10. Findings Summary –Use of Technology • Increased use of technology is important. • HOWEVER, respondents also believed it was imperative DPI have a personal presence in some way with rural schools.

  11. Findings Summary –Rural Office vs. Rural Presence • While local leaders would not oppose a rural office, several caveats were mentioned: • Don’t take money away from us. • Can one person meet all our needs? • Is that one person able to communicate our needs and concerns? • Where would one office be located?

  12. Findings Summary –DPI Presence – WEOP Concept • Given these results, it occurred to the respondents: • Is it possible to take advantage of the existing WEOP network? • Is there a way to leverage the existing WEOP infrastructure to strengthen a DPI presence, especially in rural-rural Wisconsin?

  13. Next Steps • Local leaders were pleased and enthused the state superintendent was seeking input and searching for ways to help rural students and rural communities. • Re-thinking the connection to CESAs such as more efficient communication via the PAC meetings – use of technology with a physical presence - maybe WEOP.

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