Chelsea Schools Seek Feedback on Year-Round School, School of Choice, Other Issues

The Chelsea School District is surveying community residents about a variety of topics. The survey – the district’s first – remains open through Jan. 31 and takes about 15 minutes to complete.

The results of the inaugural survey will help district officials better understand residents’ priorities for education, their perceptions of the health of students and school safety, and their experiences interacting with staff, but it also asks for direction on larger issues, including participation in School of Choice, a year-round calendar, and revenue-raising ideas.

In seeking feedback, the Board of Education said it is “critical to work together to provide the best education possible for our students and community.”

Currently, Chelsea limits School of Choice enrollment to a virtual program at the K-5 level, but no non-resident has yet enrolled.

There are multiple ways School of Choice initiatives might be implemented to give a student residing in a neighboring district the chance to attend Chelsea schools. State money would follow the student, but students and families enrolling in Chelsea would not contribute to the local school millage assessments such as a sinking fund or bonds paid through property taxes.

The survey question residents to rank their preferences on the following:

• Do not open any School of Choice seats in K-12 buildings
• Offer open seats at the K-5 level only
• Offer open seats at the 6-12 level only
• Offer School of Choice for grades K-12
• Offer limited School of Choice with specific sets open as space allows
• Open to the concept of Schools of Choice, but do not know enough to choose from the list above.

The survey also asks respondents what they think about a year-round school calendar. Research shows students may benefit from a more continuous learning cycle as opposed to having an extended summer vacation. In phrasing the question, district officials said they appreciate Chelsea’s rural and agricultural roots, but said they want to gauge community interest in an alternative calendar. Most alternative calendars don’t extend the number of days students are in the classroom, but spread them out over 12 months.

The district asks survey respondents to rte their support on the following options:

• Keep the current calendar model
• Consider alternative calendar models for elementary-aged students only
• Consider alternative calendar models for middle school-aged students only
• Consider alternative calendar models for high school-aged students only
• Consider alternative calendar models for all students simultaneously

On the issues of increasing and maintaining current revenues, the school districts asks survey respondents if they would support advertising at athletic venues and events, and to share their opinions about the current level of taxation.