Recap: Lakota District Communications Survey Results

Lakota Local Schools recently conducted its annual fall survey to gather feedback from parents, staff, students and community members regarding district-level communications and engagement. The results provide valuable insights into how Lakota can continue to improve communication strategies and better serve the community.

Almost 1,200 individuals participated, with nearly 800 completing the entire survey. Accounting for 81% of respondents, the majority of survey participants identified themselves as parents or guardians. Staff members made up 18% of the survey pool, while community members, students and local business owners represented smaller portions of the survey population.

Highlights of the survey include: 

• Quality of Communications: District-level communications received positive feedback, with 44% of respondents highly satisfied with the overall quality. Additionally, a significant portion of the community feels well-informed about Lakota Local Schools, with 56% stating they are "very informed."
   
• Information Seeking: When it comes to seeking information, 44% of respondents do so weekly, while 20% seek information daily. Academics and school safety are the top areas of interest, with 79% and 72% of respondents respectively expressing interest in these topics. Other top areas of interest include student services, the overall student experience and district events.
   
• Communication Sources: Posts and alerts through Lakota’s notification platform called ParentSquare are considered the most effective communication source, with 65% of respondents using them to stay informed. The district website and social media also play significant roles in keeping the community informed.
  
  Additionally, the survey revealed that 45% of respondents regularly follow Lakota's official social media accounts, with 27% aware of these channels but not regularly following. Facebook is clearly the most popular platform, with 88% of social media followers engaging with the District there.
  
  Local television stations are the primary source of local news for 40% of respondents. In addition, 72% of participants read Lakota’s monthly e-newsletter, "A Look Around Lakota," with 44% expressing high satisfaction with its content.
   
• Website and Mobile App Usage: The district website is a key resource for the community, with the calendar being the most sought-after information. However, 60% of respondents do not use the District’s general mobile app, indicating an area for potential growth in engagement. In contrast, 79% of respondents indicated using the ParentSquare app. 
   
• ParentSquare: ParentSquare was praised for its convenience, ease of use and centralization of classroom, school and district communications. Respondents overwhelmingly appreciate the tool’s text messaging and translation features. The responses also highlight a common concern regarding the overwhelming frequency and volume of notifications received through ParentSquare, suggesting increased measures to educate users about customizing their notification settings. Community members can subscribe to ParentSquare notifications on Lakota’s website.
   
• Video Content and Platforms: While 49% of respondents watch Lakota’s videos and 41% find the messaging to be very clear and engaging, feedback suggests that there is room for improvement in this area through creative coverage of events, classroom happenings and student spotlights. Facebook is by far the most visited platform for viewing these videos.

The survey results highlight the importance of maintaining effective communication channels and addressing the community's needs and interests. Lakota Local Schools is committed to using this feedback to enhance our communication strategies and ensure that our community remains informed and engaged, particularly in these ways: 

• Focus on educating all ParentSquare users about the benefits of customizing notification preferences to address the notification fatigue. Also, work internally with staff to better decipher between the type and frequency of their school-to-home communications. 
   
• Continue employing new strategies to drive the District’s social media following and rates of engagement. Use district channels to share high interest content, including events, academics, safety/security, the student experience and student spotlights.  
   
• Introduce student spotlights into our regular rotation of video content.
   
• Focus on local television partners to amplify Lakota’s stories and share important information through a different source. 
   
• Consider ways to make the monthly district e-newsletter content more interactive to increase engagement and satisfaction.