The Guilderland Central School District will conduct its annual culture and climate survey beginning Oct. 29. Students in grades 3-12, staff and families are invited to participate.
Listening is an important part of building a strong school community, but just as important is using that feedback to identify opportunities for meaningful change.
One theme that emerged from previous feedback was a desire for more opportunities for students to share their voices and help shape their school communities. Across GCSD, that feedback has led to student conversations about district policies, initiatives focused on belonging and student-led projects that support their schools.
Student intern Calista led a peer discussion about the district’s no-devices policy, which ultimately became an article in the district’s winter newsletter. Through Mic in the Halls, students share what makes them feel like they belong at GCSD. At Farnsworth Middle School, eighth-grade students identified a need for recycling, developed a proposal and helped spark the return of recycling pickup and the creation of a recycling club.
Why conduct a culture and climate survey?
A core part of the district’s mission is creating learning environments where everyone feels welcome, supported and connected. A positive climate supports healthy emotional and physical well-being while strengthening academic performance and attendance.
Survey participants will be asked about a variety of topics, including inclusivity and diversity, connections at school, active participation, emotional well-being, bullying and the quality of learning. Responses will help district and building leaders better understand community perspectives, assess the current school climate and identify areas for improvement.
How will the survey be administered?
The district is utilizing ThoughtExchange to conduct separate surveys for students in grades 3-5 and 6-12, staff and families. Students will be given time during the school day to take the survey. Families will receive a link via ParentSquare, while staff will receive a link through their GCSD email.
Participation is voluntary, but the district encourages all members of the school community to share their perspectives. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and responses will be anonymous. Each response helps provide a fuller picture of the district’s culture and climate and where additional support or attention may be needed.
How will the district use the survey results?
Community insights will guide GCSD in developing targeted strategies to enhance communication, collaboration and overall satisfaction within GCSD schools. Each school’s Equity Action Team will review the data to identify strengths and areas for growth and use those findings to refine its building-level action plan. These plans include short-, mid- and long-term goals designed to foster positive, inclusive and supportive school environments.
Survey results will also support the district’s ongoing efforts to improve student attendance. Responses related to absences, belonging and connection may help the district better understand students’ experiences and identify where additional resources or support for students and families may be beneficial.
The culture and climate survey will be administered annually, allowing GCSD to monitor progress, identify emerging needs and continue building on what is working well.
Questions regarding the GCSD culture and climate survey can be directed to the Communications Office.