The survey of 165 Driscoll parents found: - Parents felt only moderately informed about the expansion plans. - Good teachers, small class sizes, and the school administration were the most important factors for a good school. - The top concerns about the expansion were loss of green space, traffic safety, and the ability to accommodate more students on the existing lot. - While some parents thought accommodations could be made, over 30% did not think the expansion plans could be made acceptable. - Parents were generally more supportive of purchasing more land or building a new school than expanding on the existing lot.

1. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Driscoll Expansion:
Parent Survey Results
November 26, 2013
Brookline Advisors

2. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Table Of Contents
•
•
•
•
•
•
Respondents…………………………………………………………………………......3
Plan Awareness……………………………………………………………………….....4
Key Factors for a Good School…………………………………………………….....6
y
Concerns……………………………………………………………………………….....7
Project & Scope…………………………………………………………………………...7
Expansion Specifics………………………………………………………………………8
District Leadership ……………………………………………………………………….9
9
Property Values………………………………………………………………………….10
Feasibility…………………………………………………………………………………11
Solutions………………………………………………………………………………...12
Can it Work?.........................................................................................................12
Work?
12
New Build vs. ‘Build in Place’…………………………………………………………..13
Footprint…………………………………………………………………………………..14
Specific Solutions………………………………………………………………………..15
Smaller Expansions ...…………………………………………………………………..16
16
Usage Data……………………………………………………………………………....17
Cars……………………………………………………………………………………….17
Playgrounds……………………………………………………………………………...18
About the Author…………………………………………………………………….....19
Ab t th A th
19
2

3. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Respondents
•
•
•
•
165 parents filled out surveys from a list of 670 Driscoll parent emails
All but 5 responses came via direct email response (no possibility for double
entries)
The remaining 5 came by web links from IP addresses not used by other
respondents
Respondent family breakdown:
I / We have children in t he f ollowing grades:
60.0%
50.6%
50.0%
44.9%
40.0%
31.6%
30.0%
30 0%
20.0%
16.5%
10.0%
0.0%
Toddler-Pre K
K-2nd grade
3
3-5th grade
6-8th grade

4. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Awareness
R a ting
A v e ra g e
3.83
H o w info rme d d o y o u fe e l a b o ut the p ro p o s e d e xp a ns io n p ro je c t? (0=N o t a t a ll, 10= Fully Info rme d )
26
30
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
160
27
25
20
20
12
11
9
10
10
14
4
2
9
10
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R a ti
ting
A v e ra g e
40
37
30
29
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
2.72
D o y o u fe e l a d e q ua te s te p s ha v e b e e n ta k e n to e xp la in the p ro je c t s c o p e a nd imp a c ts to y o u?
(0=T o ta lly D is a g re e , 10=T o ta lly A g re e )
162
28
21
20
12
8
6
5
10
6
10
3
5
3
8
9
10
0
0
1
2
3
4
7
R a ti
ting
A v e ra g e
2.18
D o y o u fe e l y o u we re s uffic ie ntly c o ns ulte d / inc lud e d in the p ro c e s s ? (0=N o t a t a ll, 10= Fully
Co ns ulte d / Inc lud e d )
80
60
60
27
40
22
20
17
6
11
4
5
4
4
4
2
5
6
7
8
9
10
0
0
1
2
3
4
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
162

5. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Awareness Continued
R a ting
A v e ra g e
2.11
B -SP A CE ’s c ha rte r re q uire d its wo rk b e “wid e ly d is c us s e d a c ro s s the c o mmunity in B ro o k line a nd
re c e iv e s ig nific a nt p ub lic s up p o rt.” D o y o u b e lie v e tha t g o a l wa s a c hie v e d ? (0=T o ta lly D is a g re e ,
10=T o ta lly A g re e )
60
56
33
40
24
11
20
12
3
4
10
2
4
3
4
3
6
7
8
9
10
0
0
1
2
5
5
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
162

6. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Key Factors For A Good School
T he fo llo wing fa c to rs ma k e a g o o d s c ho o l: (0= N o t a Fa c to r, 10 = Critic a l)
R a ting
A v e ra g e
Good Teachers
Small Class Size
Administration
Active Parent Community
Neighborhood Centric
Quality of Facilities
K-8 Model
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
9.90
8.66
8.28
8.31
7.52
7.46
5.88
A ns we r Op tio ns
160
160
160
158
157
159
160
a ns we re d q ue s t o n
s e e
tio
160
60
The f ollowing factors make a good school: (0= Not a Factor, 10 = Critical)
K-8 Model
K 8M d l
Quality of Facilities
Neighborhood Centric
Active P
A i Parent Community
C
i
Administration
Small Class Size
Good Teachers
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
6
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
10.00

7. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Concerns: Project & Project Scope
R a ting
A v e ra g e
1.91
P le a s e ra te y o ur o v e ra ll c o nc e rn/ e xc ite me nt o v e r the p ro p o s e d p ro je c t (0= D e e p ly Co nc e rne d ,
10=V e ry E xc ite d )
80
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
155
70
60
40
24
20
11
17
2
3
9
7
5
4
3
4
1
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0
0
1
R a ting
A v e ra g e
3.01
A n 800 s e a t s c ho o l is a s g o o d a s a 500 s e a t e le me nta ry / K-8 s c ho o l (0=T o ta lly D is a g re e , 10=T o ta lly
a g re e )
60
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
156
47
40
18
20
15
12
15
23
6
3
7
6
7
8
2
8
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
9
10
R a ting
A v e ra g e
3.43
A 700 s e a t s c ho o l is a s g o o d a s a 500 s e a t e le me nta ry / K-8 s c ho o l (0=T o ta lly D is a g re e , 10=T o ta lly
a g re e )
60
40
32
18
20
20
27
14
16
5
7
5
3
6
7
8
9
9
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
7
10
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
156

8. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Concerns: Ranking Specific Expansion Elements
If y o u ha v e c o nc e rns , p le a s e ra te the fo llo wing p o te ntia l is s ue s (0= N o t
Co nc e rne d , 10= D e e p ly Co nc e rne d )
R a ting
R e s p o ns e
A ns we r Op tio ns
A v e ra g e
Co unt
Significant loss of green space/pupil
Capacity of existing lot size to support 200 more pupils
Traffic safety
Parking access
Student relocation plans and duration are not yet
Ability of the town to complete 3 or more simultaneous
8.25
8.25
7.03
6.12
8.50
8.14
155
153
155
153
155
154
a ns we re d q ue s tio n
155
I f y ou have concerns, please rate the following potential issues (0= Not Concerned, 10= Deeply Concerned)
Ability of the town to
complete 3 or more …
Student relocation plans
and duration are not yet …
Parking access
Traffic safety
Capacity of existing lot size
to support 200 more pupils
Significant loss of green
/
il
space/pupil
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
8
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
10.00

9. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Perspectives On District Leadership
R a ting
A v e ra g e
6.48
H o w muc h fa ith d id y o u ha v e in the g e ne ra l a d minis tra tio n o f B ro o k line S c ho o ls 1 y e a r a g o ? (0= N o ne ,
10= T o ta l)
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
147
60
39
40
27
20
5
1
0
1
2
18
9
6
3
5
6
23
4
8
0
5
6
7
8
9
10
R a ting
A v e ra g e
3.95
H o w muc h fa ith d o y o u ha v e in the g e ne ra l a d minis tra tio n o f B ro o k line S c ho o ls to d a y ? (0= N o ne , 10=
T o ta l)
60
40
20
18
22
15
15
18
13
20
9
11
7
0
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
9
6
7
8
9
10
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
148

10. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Concern about Property Value Impact
D o y o u fe e l y o ur re s id e nc e will b e mo re o r le s s a ttra c tiv e to future re s id e nts if the p ro je c t g o e s fo rwa rd a s is ?
P o s itiv e
Imp a c t
N o Imp a c t
N e g a tiv e
Imp a c t
R e s p o ns e Co unt
11
A ns we r Op tio ns
54
86
151
Do you feel your residence will be more or less attractive to
future residents if the project goes forward as is?
86
54
11
Positive Impact
No Impact
10
Negative Impact

11. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Concern About Feasibility
R a ting
A v e ra g e
4.89
4 89
D o y o u think g ro wth re la te d p a rk ing a nd tra ffic s a fe ty is s ue s c a n b e a d e q ua te ly d e a lt with b y g o o d
d e s ig n? (0= N o t a t a ll, 10=A b s o lute ly )
(0
10 A
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
148
30
20
20
14
9
10
18
16
10
14
15
17
14
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
S tud e nts / a c re o f p la y s p a c e lo o k s lik e it will g ro w b y 90% + to the hig he s t d e ns ity in the d is tric t. D o y o u
think this c a n b e a d e q ua te ly d e a lt with b y g o o d d e s ig n? (0= N o t a t a ll, 10=A b s o lute ly )
60
9
10
R a ting
A v e ra g e
3.09
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
149
41
40
16
20
23
12
15
3
4
9
5
5
6
10
9
5
4
7
8
9
10
0
0
1
2
11

12. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Solutions – Can An Expansion Be Made To Work?
D o y o u b e lie v e a c c o mmo d a tio ns c a n b e ma d e to ma k e the g ro wth o f the
s c ho o l a c c e p ta b le ?
R e s p o ns e
R e s p o ns e
A ns we r Op tio ns
P e rc e nt
Co unt
Yes
No
68.5%
68 5%
31.5%
102
47
a ns we re d q ue s tio n
149
Do y ou believe accommodations can be made to make the growth of the
s c hool acceptable?
31.5%
Yes
No
68.5%
12

13. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Solutions – New Build vs. ‘Build In Place’
U s ing MS B A d a ta , B ro o k line ha s the 3rd hig he s t s c ho o l s ize o f the to p 20
d is tric ts a nd will lik e ly mo v e to 2nd hig he s t s c ho o l s ize …
R e s p o ns e
R e s p o ns e
A ns we r Op tio ns
P e rc e nt
Co unt
Yes
No
86.5%
13.5%
128
20
a ns we re d q ue s tio n
148
Us ing MSBA data, Brookline has the 3rd highest school size of the top 20
dis tricts and will likely move to 2nd highest school size under the ‘Expand in
P lace’ plan. Would you support the town s pending more money on a plan
t hat constructed a new school?
13.5%
Yes
No
86.5%
13

14. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Solutions - Footprint
If a n e q uita b le wa y to p urc ha s e mo re p ro p e rty c o uld b e fo und , wo uld y o u
s up p o rt the to wn s p e nd ing mo re mo ne y to inc re a s e to ta l s p a c e in ra tio to
R e s p o ns e
R e s p o ns e
A ns we r Op tio ns
P e rc e nt
Co unt
Yes
No
87.8%
12.2%
130
18
a ns we re d q ue s tio n
148
Would You S upport The Town B uying More Land?
12.2%
Yes
No
87.8%
14

15. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Solutions Continued
R a ting
A v e ra g e
4.56
If a fina l p la n d ra ma tic a lly a nd uno b trus iv e ly inc re a s e d p a rk ing (e x: und e rg ro und lo t, e tc .) wo uld tha t
d e c re a s e y o ur c o nc e rns ? (0= N o t a t a ll, 10= It W o uld R e mo v e my Co nc e rn)
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
146
25
30
18
20
16
13
11
17
14
14
7
10
6
5
9
10
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R a ting
A v e ra g e
4.71
If the to wn c o mmitte d to a full re no v a tio n o f D ris c o ll wo uld tha t re d uc e y o ur c o nc e rns ? (0= N o t a t a ll,
10= It W o uld R e mo v e my Co nc e rn)
40
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
150
29
30
14
20
17
14
10
17
16
11
7
12
7
6
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
R a ting
A v e ra g e
5.52
If the fina l p la n re q uire d tha t p la y s p a c e / p up il s ta y c o ns ta nt wo uld tha t d e c re a s e y o ur c o nc e rns ? (0=
N o t a t a ll, 10= It W o uld R e mo v e my Co nc e rn)
25
30
20
10
9
14
12
22
17
20
11
6
5
8
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
15
6
7
8
9
10
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
149

16. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Solutions – Would Less Expansion Be Preferable?
R a ting
A v e ra g e
5.58
5 58
If the fina l p la n a d d e d 100 p up ils ra the r tha n 200 wo uld tha t re d uc e y o ur c o nc e rns ? (0= N o t a t a ll, 10= It
W o uld R e mo v e my Co nc e rn)
40
30
30
20
29
21
12
10
10
1
4
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
148
21
9
8
3
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R a ting
A v e ra g e
6.60
If the p ro je c t a d d e d 75 p up ils ra the r tha n 200 wo uld tha t re d uc e y o ur c o nc e rns ? (0= N o t a t a ll, 10= It
W o uld R e mo v e my Co nc e rn)
40
30
20
20
10
10
0
4
7
3
4
25
28
15
4
2
15
20
10
0
0
1
5
16
6
7
8
9
10
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
148

17. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Usage - Playground
D o e s y o ur fa mily ma k e us e o f s c ho o l p la y s p a c e o uts id e o f re g ula r ho urs ?
R e s p o ns e
P e rc e nt
Yes
Y
No
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
88.5%
88 5%
11.5%
A ns we r Op tio ns
139
18
a ns we re d q ue s tio n
157
Does your family make use of school play s pace outside of regular hours?
11.5%
Yes
Y
No
88.5%
17

18. C O N F I D E N T I A L
Usage - Cars
W ha t p e rc e nta g e o f y o ur d ro p o ff/ p ic k up trip s inv o lv e the us e o f a c a r? [ 0-100% ]
R e s p o ns e
A v e ra g e
R e s p o ns e
Co unt
42%
A ns we r Op tio ns
157
0-100%
% of Pickup/Drop Offs That Involve A Car
60
50
48
40
26
30
20
20
14
14
8
10
10
8
3
1
5
0
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
18
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%

19. C O N F I D E N T I A L
About the Survey
•
Hello, my name is Sundar Srinivasan. I am a Driscoll Parent and the
husband of a BHS and Devotion alum.
•
I put together this survey because I did not think such a major project
should be rushed forward without anyone taking a broad sounding of
the community’s actual priorities and concerns
community s
concerns.
•
I have no pre-conceived notions or agenda other than wanting to make
sure any proposed plan is reasonable and realistic.
•
You can reach me at sundar@driscollexpansion.org or look for me
most mornings at drop off on the west side of the school. Feel free to
stop me with any q
p
y questions or ideas.
19