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Board hears student‑wellbeing monitoring report and struggles with low senior survey response
Summary
District administrators presented the Results 4 monitoring report showing positive trends in some wellbeing measures but low senior Healthy Youth Survey completion rates and uneven access to activities; much of the board discussion focused on how to increase student participation in surveys and whether students see results of their feedback.
Assistant Superintendent Jacqueline Downey and Executive Director Rich Melish presented the Results 4 monitoring report for 2024–25, which uses data from the 2025 Healthy Youth Survey and district measures. The report highlighted improvements in durable life skills, credit recovery engagement and graduation persistence, while noting a decline in students reporting access to clubs and activities and an increase in alcohol use in some cohorts.
Downey said the district had strong data from 6th, 8th and 10th graders but suppressed the 12th‑grade data because the senior response rate fell below 40 percent. Board members, student representatives and administrators spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing the low response rates and what the district can do to improve student participation and show the value of surveys.
Director Anderson and other board members urged efforts to treat the surveys as civic participation and to make survey results and past actions visible so students and staff understand how feedback is used. Student reps said survey fatigue stems less from quantity and more from a sense surveys do not change outcomes; they suggested showing past results and using social media and student leaders to encourage participation.
Administrators described steps already underway: analyzing survey administration timing (for example, avoiding flex periods with high absenteeism), improving communication to students and families, and embedding additional qualitative feedback mechanisms. The district also highlighted partnerships — including expanded work with Youth Eastside Services — to strengthen prevention and on‑site services.
Board members requested follow‑up data by school for a three‑year trend and asked staff to propose clear actions to increase senior participation ahead of next year's survey administration.
What happens next: Staff will analyze survey administration timing and outreach, share school‑level trends, and return with recommendations to increase senior and overall student participation in fall 2026 monitoring work and the strategic‑plan refresh.
