MONROE - Attracting and having parents keep their children in the Monroe school district and finding ways to lure more open enrollment students remains a top priority for school district leaders.
A telephone survey conducted by School Perceptions was completed last February and March and revealed that out of 70 parents who choose to enroll their children out of the School District of Monroe, 39 of them, or 57 percent, are in 4K, kindergarten and first grade.
"The trends are what concern me with the increased number open enrolling out," board member Les Bieneman said. "I see the data, but I don't know what to do with it."
At 2,411, the district has 26 fewer students this year compared to last year. According to the district's enrollment report Nov. 14, there were 148 students this year living in Monroe that were open enrolled out to another school district and 97 students who open enrolled into the Monroe school district.
Monroe District Administrator Rick Waski said they also received the top three reasons cited for parents open enrolling their children out of the district. According to the survey, 33 percent said the current school is closer to a parent's job, 16 percent cite bullying, discipline or safety concerns and 13 percent say the class sizes are too large. Eleven percent reported a parent attended a different neighboring district and 10 percent cited the proximity to child care.
"I think we have to get the data out there and be honest about it," Waski said. "Once they leave, it's harder to get them back."
Waski said the district is being more generous in allowing parents freedom in selecting which elementary school they want their child to attend.
"The truth of the matter is if we don't find reasons to say yes, they will go elsewhere," he said of students' families. "We need to find compelling reasons to say yes and not no."
Year-round open enrollment was approved in Wisconsin in 2011. The state still has a regular open enrollment period from Feb. 5 to April 30 this year, but a family at any time can have their student switch to a different district using the alternative application.
Waski said the district plans an aggressive open enrollment campaign through newspaper, radio and social media advertisements. Other ways the district is exploring to retain more 4K, kindergarten and first-grade students are with open-house visits where parents can learn about the school and hear stories from other parents, teachers and students.
"I want to make sure we have the opportunity to bring people into our elementary schools, because I think that could weigh on their decision," board member Rich Deprez said.
Of the 43 districts outside the greater Madison area, Monroe has the third highest school report card, Waski said.
"I don't think we need to set a dollar amount," Waski said for the open enrollment advertising. "I don't think we would spend more than the $10,000 before we would need to get board approval."
The district earmarked up to $15,000 for an open enrollment advertising campaign last year. Monroe Business Administrator Ron Olson said a portion of last year's open enrollment money went to social media to beef up support for the referendum.
For the respondents who had their children open enroll out of the district, 70 percent, or 49 of them, said they would not consider moving their children back into schools in Monroe.
Waski said based on the data from the survey, the most important factors in how parents make decisions about their children's education include district and school communication, competent and caring staff, Advanced Placement course offerings, math and science offerings, class sizes, preparation for colleges and technical schools, discipline, bullying, parent involvement and opportunities for community service learning.
There are various reasons families choose to send their children to another district, and board member Mary Berger noted numbers can't always sway a parent's heart.
"Despite all of the data, much of it is an emotional decision," Berger said. "How do you combat that emotional decision?"
Although Monroe no longer has its virtual charter school building, Waski said all of the same virtual school courses are still offered at the high school.
Waski said according to the state Department of Public Instruction, there are more than 100 students in Monroe who are part of homeschool programs. As part of the survey, there were 30 respondents from families who homeschool their children.
Waski said the top three reasons cited for homeschooling were it provided more flexibility and options (61 percent), bullying and discipline concerns (18 percent) and a desire to integrate religious values (18 percent).
Of those families who homeschool their children, 22 percent said they would consider having their children attend school in Monroe.
"That tells me that a quarter of these families we can reach out to," Waski said. "Some of the factors we can control and some we can't. Two of the three factors we can control."
Waski said the district could consider partnerships with homeschool programs. Due to a change to state law, homeschool students can participate in high school sports in the district, he said.
Of the 50 respondents in the survey who open enrolled their children into the Monroe school district, 30 percent did so because the district was close to where they worked and 29 percent did because they moved out of Monroe but still wanted their children to attend school in the district.
"The best thing we can do is have satisfied families talk to other families," Waski said.
A telephone survey conducted by School Perceptions was completed last February and March and revealed that out of 70 parents who choose to enroll their children out of the School District of Monroe, 39 of them, or 57 percent, are in 4K, kindergarten and first grade.
"The trends are what concern me with the increased number open enrolling out," board member Les Bieneman said. "I see the data, but I don't know what to do with it."
At 2,411, the district has 26 fewer students this year compared to last year. According to the district's enrollment report Nov. 14, there were 148 students this year living in Monroe that were open enrolled out to another school district and 97 students who open enrolled into the Monroe school district.
Monroe District Administrator Rick Waski said they also received the top three reasons cited for parents open enrolling their children out of the district. According to the survey, 33 percent said the current school is closer to a parent's job, 16 percent cite bullying, discipline or safety concerns and 13 percent say the class sizes are too large. Eleven percent reported a parent attended a different neighboring district and 10 percent cited the proximity to child care.
"I think we have to get the data out there and be honest about it," Waski said. "Once they leave, it's harder to get them back."
Waski said the district is being more generous in allowing parents freedom in selecting which elementary school they want their child to attend.
"The truth of the matter is if we don't find reasons to say yes, they will go elsewhere," he said of students' families. "We need to find compelling reasons to say yes and not no."
Year-round open enrollment was approved in Wisconsin in 2011. The state still has a regular open enrollment period from Feb. 5 to April 30 this year, but a family at any time can have their student switch to a different district using the alternative application.
Waski said the district plans an aggressive open enrollment campaign through newspaper, radio and social media advertisements. Other ways the district is exploring to retain more 4K, kindergarten and first-grade students are with open-house visits where parents can learn about the school and hear stories from other parents, teachers and students.
"I want to make sure we have the opportunity to bring people into our elementary schools, because I think that could weigh on their decision," board member Rich Deprez said.
Of the 43 districts outside the greater Madison area, Monroe has the third highest school report card, Waski said.
"I don't think we need to set a dollar amount," Waski said for the open enrollment advertising. "I don't think we would spend more than the $10,000 before we would need to get board approval."
The district earmarked up to $15,000 for an open enrollment advertising campaign last year. Monroe Business Administrator Ron Olson said a portion of last year's open enrollment money went to social media to beef up support for the referendum.
For the respondents who had their children open enroll out of the district, 70 percent, or 49 of them, said they would not consider moving their children back into schools in Monroe.
Waski said based on the data from the survey, the most important factors in how parents make decisions about their children's education include district and school communication, competent and caring staff, Advanced Placement course offerings, math and science offerings, class sizes, preparation for colleges and technical schools, discipline, bullying, parent involvement and opportunities for community service learning.
There are various reasons families choose to send their children to another district, and board member Mary Berger noted numbers can't always sway a parent's heart.
"Despite all of the data, much of it is an emotional decision," Berger said. "How do you combat that emotional decision?"
Although Monroe no longer has its virtual charter school building, Waski said all of the same virtual school courses are still offered at the high school.
Waski said according to the state Department of Public Instruction, there are more than 100 students in Monroe who are part of homeschool programs. As part of the survey, there were 30 respondents from families who homeschool their children.
Waski said the top three reasons cited for homeschooling were it provided more flexibility and options (61 percent), bullying and discipline concerns (18 percent) and a desire to integrate religious values (18 percent).
Of those families who homeschool their children, 22 percent said they would consider having their children attend school in Monroe.
"That tells me that a quarter of these families we can reach out to," Waski said. "Some of the factors we can control and some we can't. Two of the three factors we can control."
Waski said the district could consider partnerships with homeschool programs. Due to a change to state law, homeschool students can participate in high school sports in the district, he said.
Of the 50 respondents in the survey who open enrolled their children into the Monroe school district, 30 percent did so because the district was close to where they worked and 29 percent did because they moved out of Monroe but still wanted their children to attend school in the district.
"The best thing we can do is have satisfied families talk to other families," Waski said.