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Polk Schools to launch districtwide public perception survey with Zen City; leaders seek board guidance on limited 'pulse' surveys
Summary
District communications staff described a new partnership with Zen City to run ongoing engagement surveys, social‑media monitoring and limited scientific 'pulse' surveys; staff proposed a large volunteer 'engage' survey aligned to the strategic plan and asked the board how to allocate eight in‑depth 'pulse' surveys during the two‑year contract.
Polk County Schools staff on Sept. 9 described a partnership with Zen City to expand community feedback tools, including an "Engage" volunteer survey, organic social‑media monitoring and an 8‑survey quota of more rigorous "pulse" surveys over 24 months.
Why it matters: The tools are intended to deliver representative community feedback tied to the district’s strategic goals, inform communication strategy and measure sentiment on issues such as rezoning, program priorities and budgeting.
Jason Geary and Jeanette Crowley outlined three Zen City products: an "Engage" platform for repeated volunteer surveys that the district can run frequently; an "organic" monitoring tool to track social‑media and news sentiment; and a "pulse" product — limited to eight surveys over the two‑year term — that uses Zen City’s sampling to reach a statistically representative cross‑section through targeted outreach. Crowley said the planned districtwide public perception survey is aligned to the five strategic goals and will be available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole, open from a planned September launch through April for rolling responses.
Geary said the organic tool has already helped staff monitor public reaction to rezoning proposals; he described dashboards and word‑cloud analytics staff have used for sentiment and issue tracking. Board members asked about outreach reach and methodology: Board Member Miller and others stressed the need to target less‑connected geographies (Davenport, Haines City) and to reach nonparent community members and business partners. Crowley said the district tested draft questions with the District Advisory Council (DAC) and will have ESOL staff validate automated translations.
Board members also sought guidance on how to use the limited pulse surveys. Geary said pulse surveys can be used to test specific items (for example, referendum support or budgeting priorities) and that Zen City’s team would support design and sampling strategy. Board Member Sharpless suggested the referendum question as a natural use; the board did not take a vote Sept. 9.
What comes next: Staff proposed launching the districtwide engage survey and returning with recommendations on how to allocate the eight pulse surveys; staff will provide regular dashboard and quarterly reporting on survey results.
Ending note: Board members welcomed the tools but emphasized careful question design, broad demographic reach and clarity on how results will be presented to the board.
