MONTVALE—The Pascack Valley Regional School District’s interim superintendent promised Sept. 13 that future student surveys would be provided in advance to parents — and other interested taxpayers — who want to see them.
Five residents and a current Pascack Hills student offered views on the pros and cons.
Discussed were privacy issues and what recourse parents have to opt out of surveys.
The public exchange was sparked by a proposed update to the district’s school surveys policy that outlined nine areas of “protected information surveys” as defined by the federal Department of Education.
The district must seek written consent from parents before being allowed to ask questions that fall into any of the nine restricted areas, said school officials.
Montvale resident Carolee Adams had questioned the district about surveys that seek information that parents do not want provided or even want their children to take a survey on.
Previously, some parents voiced concerns about surveys administered in early 2021 that questioned students on possible new mascot choices.
Annually, high school students attending Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley regional high schools receive a Student Climate Survey that seeks student input.
Superintendent Daniel Fishbein said the student climate survey is offered during the spring and will be the next district-wide survey.
That survey does not ask questions that would fall under any of the nine protected information survey areas, Fishbein said.
Fishbein said protected areas include:
- Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
- Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
- Sex behavior or attitudes;
- Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
- Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
- Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as with lawyers, physicians, and ministers;
- Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents;
- Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program); or
- Social Security number.
School Board President Tammy Molinelli sought to answer parents’ concerns over “invasive” survey questions and possible selling of such student data.
“Children are never mandated to take a survey in a school district. So the impression where we force children to take surveys should be disbanded,” said Molinelli. “[Students] always have the option to choose not to participate.”
Molinelli said the results of student surveys are used “internally to understand the pulse of what kids need” for educational purposes.
Adams wanted to make sure that students know in advance that they have the choice to opt-out of any surveys given. She suggested the district take a “proactive” approach to reach students and parents about such an option. She suggested that any surveys being given by the district be posted on its website for the public to view.
Molinelli requested Adams put all her questions in writing to the board and said that answers would be provided.
River Vale resident Eli Moallem asked whether any surveys touching on the nine protected areas had been issued and the process to opt-out of such future surveys. He was told no surveys on protected areas had been disseminated by the district. Molinelli said she would get back to Moellen on his questions.
Shilamida Kupershteyn asked whether parents and students understand they can opt out of school surveys.
Asked why the district needs to survey students, Fishbein said, “You may want to understand the issues that young adolescents are dealing with.”
Pascack Hills High School senior Aaron Solomon said he has heard multiple times from teachers that he did not need to take surveys that had been offered over the years and that, “[I] really don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”
Resident Ben Friedman complimented the board members but voiced opposition to surveys that touch on the nine protected areas. He called for an “open dialogue” and told trustees that parents and students must be aware of their opt-out options on sensitive survey topics.
Fishbein told Pascack Press that the survey policy is a “mandatory policy all districts must have.”
Responding to Kari Solomon’s request for information on student survey response rates, Fishbein released data showing that the climate survey had a declining three-year participation rate.