Superintendent outlines parent survey findings and ODE at‑a‑glance data showing low third‑grade proficiency
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Summary
Interim Superintendent Gary Roberts told the Coos Bay SD 9 board that an October parent survey (73 responses) praised student supports and extracurriculars but flagged communication, mental‑health services and special‑education needs. Roberts also previewed ODE "at‑a‑glance" metrics showing 26% third‑grade ELA proficiency and 15% eighth‑grade math proficiency for the district.
Interim Superintendent Gary Roberts presented the results of an October parent/community survey and previewed the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) "at‑a‑glance" district profile during the Coos Bay SD 9 board meeting.
Roberts said the survey drew 73 responses and identified common strengths — student support, caring staff, extracurriculars and some positive communication — alongside areas for improvement, including consistency of communication, more mental‑health and special‑education supports, and transportation reliability.
"We had 73 responses, which, I wish we had more," Roberts said, and noted that the district plans more outreach, translated surveys and town‑hall meetings to increase participation. Board members suggested short surveys, QR codes at events and small incentives to boost response rates.
Roberts also walked the board through ODE’s upcoming at‑a‑glance report, explaining suppression rules for small groups and sharing comparison data that shows local challenges: about 48% of Coos Bay students are identified as living in poverty; 61% are regular attenders; 26% of third graders were proficient in ELA; and 15% of eighth graders were proficient in math. Roberts said those metrics place Coos Bay below several comparison districts and framed early literacy (third‑grade reading) as a priority because it underpins later success across subjects.
The superintendent proposed steps to respond: targeted interventions for reading and math, expanded mental‑health supports, clearer communications, and more opportunities for community engagement; he said he will post the full survey results on the district website and continue to refine outreach before a spring follow‑up survey.
Next steps announced included translating future surveys into Spanish, piloting additional outreach methods at community events and scheduling town‑hall meetings in multiple neighborhoods.