By Ana Martinez-Ortiz
Dr. Keith Posley says MPS wants as many responses as possible and for everyone to contribute their input. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Earlier this week, Milwaukee Public Schools announced it was launching a community survey. The goal of the survey is to gather feedback from community members on what aspects they believe are needed to further improve MPS.
The survey officially launched during a press conference held at Marvin Pratt Elementary School, 5131 N. Green Bay Rd. During the press conference, several members of MPS, including superintendent Dr. Keith Posley spoke of the importance of the survey.
MPS has the largest footprint in education in all of Milwaukee, Posley said. It is made up of 159 schools and is committed to equitable education. MPS has a lot of aspects that it can be proud of, but there are points where it can be stronger, which is where the survey comes in, Posley said.
“When it comes to education…we can never rest,” he said.
The survey allows Milwaukee residents, from all walks of life, to engage with MPS and offer their input on what they think MPS needs. As part of its efforts to ensure that every Milwaukee resident is reached, MPS plans to send a postcard with information about the survey to every home in the district.
“We want to hear from you,” Posley said. “We want everyone to take this survey – all walks of life.”
Community members fill out the MPS survey. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
In the press release, Posley expanded on the importance of the survey. MPS can point to areas of success, he said, but there are areas that need enhancement.
“The information that comes from this survey will be used to help us improve,” Posley said.
Bob Peterson, a board member on the MPS School Board, said this survey is particularly special as it hopes to engage everyone from parents and staff to students and community members.
“We are calling on the community to help us in this regard,” Peterson said.
While the survey is accessible online, assistance will be available at the MPS Welcome Center, 5225 W. Vliet St., said Teng Lee, an associate at the MPS Welcome Center.
Lee said that residents interested in taking the survey but who don’t have a computer or internet access or who need extra assistance can take the survey at the Welcome Center. He added that in order to accommodate anyone interested in taking the survey the survey is available in seven languages: Arabic, Burmese, Hmong, Korean, Rohingya, Somali and Spanish.
The survey takes an average of 10 minutes to complete and will be open until Sept. 12, 2019. All survey responses are confidential. Once the survey closes, community members are invited to attend a listening session, in which survey results will be discussed.
The listening sessions are as follows.
Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning, 1017 N. 12th St., from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Reagan High School, 4965 S. 20th St., from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St., from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at St. Vincent High School, 7501 N. Granville Rd., from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The survey can be accessed at mpsmke.com/survey.