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Highline board hears community survey showing support for career, calls for more funding; directors press methodology
Summary
A ClearPath Strategies survey presented to the Highline School District board found majority support for district goals and strong interest in career and technical education; board members pressed the consultant on sample size, language access and subgroup breakdowns.
The Highline School District Board of Directors on Dec. 18 heard results from a districtwide community survey that found broad public support for the district’s strategic goals and prioritized career and technical education.
Ben Winston of ClearPath Strategies presented June survey results showing roughly 47% of adults held a favorable impression of the district and 41% said they were satisfied with the quality of education overall. Among parents of current Highline students, 59% reported satisfaction. The consultant said roughly 60% of respondents across the district think Highline needs additional funding and that residents ranked career‑connected learning and supports for students with special needs among top priorities.
The presentation emphasized a communication gap: non‑parents were less likely to know about career‑connected opportunities in district schools, and when they did hear about those programs their favorability rose. "When that information reaches them, they overwhelmingly feel favorably towards the district," Winston said.
Directors asked detailed questions about methodology, especially the sample size and language availability. "We were interviewing about 400 people," Winston said, noting the poll is calibrated to census parameters and carries a typical margin of error of about four to five percentage points. He acknowledged most interviews were conducted in English and said offering translated surveys is a potential future improvement.
Superintendent Dr. Ivan Duran and communications director Tova Tupper framed the survey as one of several community‑engagement tools the district uses to inform bond, levy and strategic communication work. Board members said they value the data but requested further subgroup breakdowns — in particular clearer separation between parents and non‑parents — to better understand how perceptions vary among people with direct ties to district schools.
The board did not take action on the survey report; staff said they would provide additional subgroup data and follow‑up answers by email.
