Services

CONSULT

Getting an accurate picture of patron perceptions, opinions, desires and ideas is neither easy nor cheap, but our clients have found it absolutely invaluable. Just ask them. Many successful school districts find our comprehensive research reports a must-have for managing patron relationships.

For a comprehensive snapshot of patron perceptions, we often recommend telephone-based research, because it is the most reliable methodology to deliver statistically accurate data. Online surveys are sometimes an inexpensive alternative—especially for captive audiences like students, staff and affinity groups. When it helps to literally hear the voice of your patrons, we usually opt for focus groups. And, to keep your finger on the pulse of your district, our Patron Panels are an inexpensive investment.

To learn more about consulting your patrons through research, check out our Buyers Guide to Research.

TELEPHONE SURVEYS
Statistically significant research provides critical insight into what a true, random cross-section of your constituents. Whether you need to measure overall citizen satisfaction, evaluate support or opposition to concepts for a future proposal, or test the impact of potentially controversial decisions, research can help you more effectively identify the opportunities – and the risks.

ONLINE SURVEYS
When the audience is “captive” (parents, teachers, etc.) and the subject matter is important to them, customized online research from Patron Insight can provide you the answers you need at a fraction of the cost and time of traditional research. Our expertise at survey methodology and analysis ensures that your data is accurate.

FOCUS GROUPS
When you need impressions rather than numbers, focus group research from Patron Insight is the ideal choice. And while lots of companies offer focus group moderation, our professional facilitators average 25 years experience, meaning we get well below the surface, so you’ll know what your patrons, parents, students, teachers or community leaders are really thinking and feeling.

PATRON PANELS
Patron Panels is a program tht provides regularly scheduled (monthly or quarterly; you decide), meetings with a select group of 18 patrons to review plans, discuss challenges, and seek input. Once a quarter, these meetings are supplemented with a confidential, online survey of your current Panel delegates, plus up to 100 more patrons who are waiting in the wings to join the Panel at a later date.

EXIT SURVEYS
Those who are leaving your district – whether they are staff or students – have a wealth of insight to share, if you ask them for their help in the right way. Our Exit Survey process gleans the strengths of the district, along with those areas that may need attention, in a way that makes it easy for those who are leaving (or who have just left) to take part. We’ll guide you each step of the way to make certain that your Exit Survey fits your district and gathers quality information you can put to use right away.

COMMUNICATE

George Bernard Shaw said ”The problem with communication is the illusion that is has occurred.” We agree. Facilitating great communications is at the heart of everything we do.

Whether it’s primarily written communications, like website copy, press releases, newsletters, etc. complex communication that requires multiple venues, such as election campaigns or dynamic communications like social media, we can help.

We also offer communications training, including seminars, workshops and our Patron Link program for smaller districts.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Whether it’s a marquee or a newsletter, a story in the newspaper or an e-mail blast, patrons are always reading something about your school district. Crisp, concise written communications that is targeted to the right audience can go a long way towards helping you successfully manage your patron relationships. We have award-winning writers for all disciplines.

SOCIAL MEDIA
“Friends and neighbors” are almost always the most common information source identified in our patron surveys. Increasingly, social media is the way your patrons get their information from their friends and neighbors. You Tube, Facebook and Twitter are some of the social media you need to monitor and master. Check out our own social media efforts and ask if we can help you with yours.

TRAINING AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT
We love to teach—and it shows in everything we do. We have comprehensive programs on topics ranging from research design to brand development to crisis communications. Our programs are as short as an hour or as comprehensive as a whole semester. Please contact us for more information.

PATRON LINK
Not all school districts have on-site professionals to handle the day-to-day communications needs, and that’s where Patron Link can help. For a small, per-student fee, school districts get regular communications training and a set number of hours dedicated to their individual communication needs. Letters to parents, website copy, newspaper columns – you name it, we’ll prepare it for you.

COLLOBORATE

There’s no substitute for sitting down with your patrons and working together through difficult issues. Often, an impartial third party can deliver results you simply couldn’t achieve on your own.

We work with school districts on election campaigns, facility planning, boundary issues, budget planning, strategic planning and CSIP initiatives.

We also do Patron Satisfaction Surveys and Exit Surveys that allow school districts to gain input from graduating seniors, departed staff and other audiences to improve their overall patron satisfaction.

CAMPAIGN LAUNCH WORKSHOP
If you are planning a DIY election campaign, we can get your committee off to the right start with this fun, hands-on, two-hour workshop. We also offer campaign facilitation services, if you need more help beyond the kick-off event.

CAMPAIGN ASSISTANCE
You need to raise money to meet the needs of your district and you need the approval of your patrons in order to do it. Whether it’s a bond election or levy increase, asking your community to say “yes” to paying more taxes is never easy and not something you do every day. We have the tools and know-how to assist you through the campaign process. We’ll help you avoid the pitfalls and find success at the end of what is guaranteed to be a whirlwind tour…just ask anyone who has been through a campaign!

POST-LOSS ELECTION ANALYSIS
If Election Night doesn’t go the way you planned, we can accurately assess where voters did not connect with your proposal and recommend strategies for a successful re-election campaign. We have an excellent record of helping school districts understand what it will take to reverse losses and find ballot box success.

PATRON-BASED PLANNING
When it comes planning for the future or an important decision that needs to be made, involving your community in the planning process is the key to a successful outcome. As expert group facilitators, we will help a group of your patrons through a proven process to reach consensus. We’ll incorporate subject matter experts as we go, so that the group has all the information they need to create workable solutions your community will support.

BOUNDARY ISSUES
Few school district topics are as potentially divisive as boundary issues. We can help you make lasting patron connections, inform your decision-making and provide crucial third-party neutrality to public engagements in a customized process that eliminates the guesswork.
Our process includes research to determine the thoughts and concerns of the typical patron on this subject, along with facilitation of a boundary committee and the fielding of a public meeting where the most interested citizens can come and have their voices heard. The result: A solution that has the strength of data and public input behind it.

BUDGET PLANNING
Our budget planning research provides patrons with a strategic “seat at the table” as challenging financial decisions are being made. Through a mix of research methods, you’ll hear what patrons would like to protect, and what they’d be willing to reduce or eliminate. Such data informs your decision-making, and guides you in how to effectively communicate those decisions to parents, non-parent patrons, and staff.

CSIP INITIATIVES
Our most comprehensive planning tool (sometimes called a “Super Survey”) combines elements of all areas of patron engagement – ballot initiative, boundary issues, budget planning – with a broad range of district-specific questions/concerns, including:

  • Communications vehicles, frequency and content
  • Patron involvement, perception of approachability and volunteerism
  • Special services (Gifted Programs, ELL, etc)
  • Financial planning and communications
  • District strengths and weaknesses
  • Curriculum changes
  • Transportation issues
  • Extracurricular activities

Combining quantitative and qualitative research methods can help districts completely engage with all segments of their patron population to identify and fulfill CSIP goals, strategies and tactics.

We use a variety of research methodologies to help school districts get answers. Click on any of our fact sheets to find out more about some of our most popular services:

COMPRENSIVE PLANNING RESEARCH

ONLINE RESEARCH

FOCUS GROUP

PATRON PANELS

THOUGHT LEADER

SINGLE PURPOSE