In November, Jurupa Unified rolled out the “Be a Hero” survey. Available to complete via ParentConnection, the survey asked participants a few questions to help maintain important school programs and discounts for eligible students. Supported programs include athletics, music and performing arts, AVID, and CTE. Discounts on goods and services include hotspots, home internet, and student testing.
Links and QR codes to the survey, as well as instructions for how to complete it, were provided by teachers and school staff; through social media and the district website; and via the background image of student Chromebooks. Parents and guardians had roughly two months to complete the survey, and were provided with assistance when needed.
An impressive 6,670 surveys were completed and all schools met or exceeded their goals for responses, with Rustic Lane Elementary performing exceptionally well. As a result, JUSD schools will receive significant funding for the above mentioned programs and services.
While teachers offered their own incentives for completion such as Class Dojo points, parents and guardians who participated were also eligible to win a new laptop from the district for their student. After the survey window closed, 17 students were randomly selected to receive the prize. Most of the laptops were picked up from the district office the last week in January.
From left to right: Alexis Cisneros, Jose Coria Serrato, Samantha Zavala
“It doesn’t feel real, but it’s really cool,” said Alexis Cisneros, a 7th grader at Jurupa Middle. Her mother, Vanessa, was quick to complete the survey, but did not expect to win. “I usually do all the surveys,” said Vanessa. “Any time the district sends one out, I do it. I take advantage - my word counts, so I can’t complain if I don’t do it.”
Jose Coria Serrato, a 6th grader at Pedley Elementary, credits distance learning for helping him learn more about technology. Until he was selected to win, the only computer in his family was the school-issued Chromebook. “It’ll make it easier to do homework and other things,” he said about his new laptop.
Jose’s is not the only family who will be positively impacted by the prize. Adan Gomez, a 9th grader at Patriot High, has three siblings he shares technology with at home, so the new laptop will benefit the family tremendously.
For Samantha Zavala, a 10th grader at Patriot, winning the laptop is a bright spot during a difficult year. “Virtual’s been kind of hard, and I feel like this might make it easier,” she said. “It will make me want to do work.” Her mother, Arlette, was excited about the possibility of winning, but the laptop incentive was not her primary motivation. “[The school] mentioned that it was something to help out with funding,” said Arlette, “so that was the big motivator.”
Principals also attended the pick up events to congratulate their students, and had great things to say about the survey process.
“I’m very excited for my students but even more so that the parents participated,” said Monika Montiel Turner, Principal of Jurupa Middle. “The district did a fantastic job. It was a full staff-district teamwork effort. And our parents really came out and helped us out as well.”
