Parkway School District staff on Wednesday kicked off a comprehensive program evaluation of Fern Ridge, the district’s alternative program, outlining goals, methods and a timeline that includes districtwide surveys, focus groups and a return to the board with recommendations in April.

Dr. Sarah Power, coordinator of the Fern Ridge program, told the Board of Education the review will examine how to “serve Fern Ridge students now and in the future,” recognizing that students enroll for different reasons and have varied needs. “We are very proud of the work that we do there, and we’re also looking forward to going through this process alongside you this year,” Power said.

The evaluation will focus on three guiding questions: whether the staffing model addresses students’ diverse needs; how to increase stakeholder awareness and reduce stigma about Fern Ridge’s identity; and which instructional interventions and programs are essential to prepare students for a changing world. Power said a leadership team has already completed an initial survey of students, staff and parents and the team will expand outreach based on board feedback.

Lindsay Perkins, director of choice programs, and Kevin Becker, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, joined Power in describing the multi-step process. The timeline calls for a district survey in November–December, targeted focus groups after winter break, development of areas of study and recommendations based on that work, and a report to the board in April.

Board members asked about frequency of prior evaluations and comparisons to other district programs. A board member asked, “How long has it been since we did a program evaluation?” Power said a prior, smaller review occurred in 2019 and earlier work dated to 2015, but that a full, comprehensive review has not been completed recently. Staff said they plan to compare Fern Ridge offerings with other alternative programs in the area and to review electives and vocational options relative to Parkway’s four traditional high schools.

Power and Perkins highlighted a recent Fern Ridge alumni panel produced by district communications as a potential outreach model and said staff are considering alumni involvement in future graduation events. On survey scope, staff said they will consult with district data staff about whether districtwide or targeted surveys will best capture community and stakeholder perspectives.

The presentation was delivered as part of the board’s work-session agenda; no formal action or vote was taken on the evaluation itself.

The district’s stated goal is to use stakeholder input to inform decisions on staffing, program awareness and personalized learning at Fern Ridge while addressing community questions about program identity and outcomes.