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Parents urge transparency after middle-school climate survey; district says PBIS tool is optional
Summary
Parents told the board the Foothill Middle School climate survey included sensitive demographic questions and lacked clear prior notice; district staff said the PBIS climate survey is voluntary, anonymous and uses a sample parent letter that the district may edit.
Parents and community members told the Marysville Joint Unified board on May 13 that a recently administered Foothill Middle School climate survey lacked adequate notice and contained questions some parents found inappropriate.
Jamie (identified only by first name at the meeting) said the survey was distributed without her receiving the opt-out letter and that some students said they were pressured to take the anonymous survey. "This survey was completely inappropriate on some of the questions they asked," Jamie said, asking the board to clarify who approved the questions and whether parents had been properly notified.
District staff answered that the climate survey is administered through PBIS and is not mandated; the district is required to collect some student feedback for LCAP purposes but may choose the instrument. A staff member explained: "The climate survey is done by PBIS. It's not a mandated survey... It asks a total of 9 questions to the kids. Most of the questions are, do you feel safe at school? Do you feel respected by others?" (Staff member)
On the specific demographic questions that prompted concern, staff said those items are included in the PBIS package because researchers use demographic context (including gender identity and orientation) to analyze differences in how students feel at school. The staff speaker said the district could not pick and choose individual items within the PBIS package: "It's either you use the PBIS survey or you don't." The staff member also said sample parent-notification language comes from PBIS and can be edited by the district.
Board members asked clarifying questions about whether parents were given notice through ParentSquare and whether the district had the ability to edit the sample letter. Staff said survey materials were available at school and that a ParentSquare notification went out about the survey; the sample parent letter can be edited.
Why it matters: Parents raised privacy and consent concerns about student surveys that influence district decisions on climate and safety. The board did not take action at the meeting but discussed clarifying communications and options for parental access to survey content.
Next steps: Board members and staff said they would follow up to clarify notification procedures and whether additional transparency measures or opt-out communications are needed.
