Survey results, focus group meetings, one-on-one interviews to serve as guide to future years in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

 

Results from a survey of Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District parents, students and employees, supplemented by focus group meetings and one-on-one interviews, will serve as a guide to build on the district's strengths and confront issues and needs in the near future.

The information gained will aid newly named superintendent, Dr. Jim Elsasser, who is scheduled to begin work Jan. 4. The nine-year leader of the Claremont Unified School District will replace the retiring Dr. Greg Plutko, who has served since 2016.

An online survey included 2,368 parents, 760 students, 431 certificated staff (mostly teachers) 260 classified staff, 63 administrators and 43 others, while focus groups and interviews involved 150 parents, community members, students and employees, as conducted by an independent firm specializing in superintendent searches.

According to the company, strengths include family orientation, strong programs and services and engagement and communication. Issues and needs include budget shortfalls, a governance team in transition and contending community values.

Among the specific strengths and issues identified by the search firm:

--The district is “a tight-knit community where people grow up together, take care of one another and pull together in times of need. Former students are known to return to the district to live, work and raise a family.”

--”Parents repeatedly stated that they moved to the district for its rich programs, bountiful resources, high standards and award-winning schools.”

--”Stakeholders noted that the district goes out of its way to keep parents, staff, employee associations and the community-at-large apprised of its work” and said “they felt like they knew what was happening in and around the district.”

--”Given on-going trends of declining enrollment coupled with the post-COVID fiscal uncertainty, the greatest challenge on the horizon is the budget. Stakeholders recognize that it will be difficult to maintain the things PYLUSD values as budget shortfalls play out.”

--”In order to govern effectively, newly elected trustees, incumbents and a new superintendent will need to focus on collaboration and unity of purpose to set goals, establish policies and align resources that keep learning and improvement as the highest priority.”

--”Restoring schools to normalcy amidst a global pandemic, equity concerns, myriad social justice issues and divergent agendas have elicited passionate discourse across the district. A genuine commitment toward shared understanding, mutually beneficial solutions and a third way is called for,” as stakeholders grapple with these matters.

Survey ratings from 3,171 parents, students and community on the district's overall quality of education: 35% excellent, 44% above average, 18% average, 2% below average and 1% poor. Ratings from 754 employees: 41% excellent, 49% above average, 10% average and less than 1% below average.