Walla Walla High School facilities improvement survey findings now available for public view

Walla Walla High School facilities improvement survey findings now available for public view

Walla Walla Public Schools partnered with Washington State University Social and Economic Sciences Research Center to conduct a telephone survey to determine opinions about facility improvement priorities for Walla Walla High School.

These results are now posted on the district web site: www.wwps.org. WSU representatives made calls in June and connected with 308 community members as part of this scientific survey process. The district also conducted an online survey in June to obtain additional community input.

WSU Survey Findings:

• One third, or 33.2%, of respondents rated the current condition of Wa-Hi buildings as good or excellent.
• Half, or 50.5%, of respondents have been in Walla Walla High School classroom or learning space within the last five years, whereas 23.8% have never been in a Wa-Hi classroom or learning space.
• When asked if they voted on the February 2012 bond, 78.6% indicated they did.
• Of those who voted, 64.3% voted “yes.”
• The top two reasons residents voted yes were: “Facility needs were great” and to “improve student achievement.”
• The top two reasons residents voted no were: the “Cost was too much for me personally” and “The public cannot

afford this debt in this economy.”

• 81.2% of respondents felt they had enough information to make an informed decision on the February 12, 2013 bond.
• With regard to community priorities for facility improvement at Walla Walla High School, 47.9% of respondents favored complete modernization, while 33.1% favored a phased approach, and the remaining 19.0% favored no bond at all.
• Of those who favored a phased approach, 53.1% favored a three phase approach and 40.7% favored a two phase approach.
• Of those favoring a phased approach, 54.7% residents indicated the science building as the highest priority, whereas 28% indicated the Academic building should have the highest priority and another 10.7% indicated the Career and Technical Education building should be the highest priority.
• Regarding other capital needs, 44.7% indicated replacing Lincoln High School is the highest priority, and 26.9% indicated modernizing Prospect Point and Berney Elementary schools should be the highest priority.

Survey Respondent Characteristics

• 61.6% of respondents were female, and 38.4% were male.
• Over half the respondents (51.0%) are age 60 or older.
• 75.5% do not have children living in the home who attend Walla Walla Public schools.

The February 12, 2013 bond proposal to modernize Walla Walla High School failed garnering a 53.30 percent YES vote. The proposal required a 60 percent “Supermajority” for approval. The bond proposal was for $48 million. The total project cost was $69.6 million.

“School board members and district administrators appreciate the survey input regarding this important community issue,” said Superintendent Mick Miller. “The district will use this survey data to help determine next steps for future facility improvement plans for Walla Walla High School.”

For more information about the Walla Walla High School facilities survey results, contact Communications Director Mark Higgins at 509.526.6716 or by e-mail at: mhiggins@wwps.org.

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