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YouthTruth survey: Pajaro Valley students rate relationships lowest while district highlights strong college-and-career support
Summary
District staff presented YouthTruth survey results from 9,496 students showing high engagement and college-career readiness but a consistent low-rated theme across all levels: relationships (students reporting whether teachers care). Parents urged reconsidering the YouthTruth contract and improving family participation.
Pajaro Valley Unified staff presented the district's YouthTruth survey results June 25, reporting responses from 9,496 students (about 76% participation), roughly 4,000 family members and 1,000 staff. Superintendent Dr. Heather Contreres said the longitudinal data helps guide the LCAP and school-level planning.
The presentation highlighted strengths: elementary students rated instructional methods and family engagement highly and high-school students showed above-average college-and-career support. But the presentation also flagged a persistent weakness: relationships. "Relationships" was the lowest-rated theme at elementary, middle and high school levels; several student items about whether teachers care and whether teachers think students can get good grades if they try were among the lowest-scoring questions.
Community members pressed the board on next steps and costs. Parent Jessica Clemens urged the board to add an agenda item to cancel the YouthTruth contract, citing cumulative expense since 2018 (she estimated more than $500,000) and arguing that lower-cost survey tools could be used. "Please put it on the agenda to vote to cancel YouthTruth and find a less costly option," she said. District staff responded that YouthTruth provides licensed survey instruments, analytic capabilities, workshops and site-level presentations that the district finds more actionable than basic forms.
Trustees and staff discussed participation rates: while student response was relatively high (76%), family participation was lower (about 25%), and trustees asked staff to work on ways to increase family input and to ensure teachers and students understand the survey's importance. Trustees also noted the contract renewal date and that staff had negotiated fees previously.
The board did not take action on the contract at the meeting but discussed follow-up steps including strengthening school-level work on relationships, increasing family participation, and reviewing costs ahead of the contract renewal date in November.
