Wayzata survey shows strong support for Community Education, highlights outreach, transportation and space gaps

The Wayzata Public School District on March 23 heard results of its first communitywide survey of Community Education users and residents, which showed high ratings for Community Ed services and identified specific outreach and access gaps the district plans to address.

Consultant Peter Leatherman of Morris Leatherman told the board the survey used two 400-sample interviews that are projectable to about ±5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level and were conducted in November. "The interviews were conducted last November. Average interview time was 14 minutes," he said, noting a 5.5% nonresponse rate.

Leatherman reported strong favorability: roughly 83% of community respondents and 92% of parents rated Community Education positively, with particularly high "excellent" scores among parents. Awareness of specific programs was high (for example, roughly 70% reported awareness of adult learning opportunities), but participation rates remain below pre-pandemic levels; overall household participation was reported at about 43–44%, versus historic pre-pandemic participation of 55–60%.

The presentation distinguished profiles of typical users and non-users. "The typical user is 35 to 44, parents with preschoolers, higher-income households," Leatherman said. Non-users tended to be older, male and lower-income. He also emphasized retention: "Once they use the program, they are a captured customer," noting parents showed a very high likelihood to return.

On barriers, the survey found "no time" and lack of interest as the leading reasons people do not participate. Registration glitches and transportation were less common but still meaningful for pockets of residents. Leatherman highlighted that among households with a preschooler who were not currently enrolled, 42% said they would be more likely to enroll if transportation were provided—an estimated potential increase in enrollment (with a cell-size caveat for the subgroup).

Community Ed Director Jenny Ebert told the board the data would guide several next steps: targeted listening to underserved groups, exploring transportation feasibility (especially for preschool and summer youth programs), refining marketing and branding, and improving outreach to apartment communities and other newcomer populations. She warned that space constraints are a limiting factor: classrooms used during the pandemic are now needed for K–5 instruction, and expanding programs may require additional facilities or partnerships.

Ebert also described existing financial supports for families: community education scholarships, partnerships with Interfaith Outreach and county childcare assistance programs and state-related supports. "We have the resources to support them," she said, and pledged to make information about those supports clearer to families.

Board members asked about program formats, outreach to families with special needs and competition with municipal Parks & Rec. Ebert said state statute requires school districts to avoid duplicating services offered by other organizations, so the district focuses on filling gaps and partnering where appropriate.

Next steps cited in the presentation include further listening work, feasibility study on transportation and space planning that will tie into district facility work and the upcoming referendum.

The board took questions from members and heard one public comment from a resident who described the value of informal, low-cost parent gatherings in building community connections.