The Hanover School Division Community Thought Exchange survey results are in.

Superintendent Randy Dueck says the approximate $10,000 survey, sent out to parents in April and May of last year, compiled the top appreciations, concerns, and additional comments from parents of each school across the division.

Dueck notes it's important for the division to have an understanding of what the different community's thoughts, ideas, perceptions, and feelings are towards the schools and the division. He adds Thought Exchange was one way the division was able to accomplish this and be provided with feedback from parents across the division.

"I think it's really important for us, divisionally, to get a sense of what's resonating with people and what's mattering to people out there. It informs our decision making, it informs how we plan for the future, how we learn form the past, and how the parents are feeling about our schools right now."

He says it's also informative for principle's who may often hear from more vocal parents but may not have heard some concerns from parents who are less likely to speak out.

The two largest concerns divisionally were parent-school communication and inclusive education. Dueck says inclusive education was a hot topic at the time and, therefore, was on the minds of a lot of parents.

"Parent-school communication was also in the appreciations. So, many of our items are both concerns and appreciations at the same time. That means they matter to people. So obviously parent-school communication matters to people. What we heard over and over again is - could we do a better job of communication, yes; do they appreciate what communication we are doing, absolutely."

Dueck says though it's easy to focus on the concerns there were also many positives and aspects of the division parents appreciate. He adds if parents would like to address some of the concerns listed at their child's school in more detail, they may contact the principal of that school to discuss those concerns.

The Hanover School Division has listed the results of the Community Thought Exchange on their website for public viewing.