Beginning this weekend, phones will be ringing across the Salina USD 305 school district area as a comprehensive survey of patron opinion will begin.

According to USD 305, the survey will provide insight into what residents think about the district’s strengths, challenges, and other important issues.

“This survey will give us an outstanding opportunity to hear from a cross-section of our patrons. We are interested in their opinions about our performance, and what they think about a variety of issues,” says Linn Exline, superintendent. “We’ll hear from all geographic parts of the district, people of different ages, and everyone from newcomers to long-term residents.”

The phone survey was designed by ExcellenceK12, a Kansas City-based market research firm that has worked with school districts across the Midwest.

The calling will be done by Market Research Associates, a Kansas City firm, which uses only professional researchers. Participants will be selected totally at random, and all responses will be kept completely confidential.

In general, calls will be placed between 7 and 9 p.m. on weekdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The caller ID may show “Market Research Associates,” or it may simply show an 816 or 913 area code, because the company uses calling facilities in both Missouri and Kansas.

For those who are not contacted at random on the phone, an online version of the survey will be available on the district’s website.

The survey process will take about two weeks to complete, and the district is asking patrons to listen for their phones to ring.

“We are very fortunate to live and serve in a community that values our schools,” Exline says. “If you get called for the survey, please answer and give your honest feedback.”