Johnson County Central

Student Feedback - Visioning Activity

March 31, 2023

In November, 14 JCC high school students took part in a “Visioning Activity” in collaboration with the 4 County Collaborative and Mr. Craig Schroeder, Board President of the Heartland Center for Leadership Development. During the activity, the students discussed ways in which they could improve their communities and created diagrams for their “vision” for the future. They then shared these ideas with area leaders from the JCC district. During this time, community leaders were able to ask JCC students questions about their vision. JCC’s highlight from this activity was:

“Students’ Voice in School Improvements”

By this our students want to be consulted and want to have a say in the future of our school district. Whatever happens today will most definitely impact future families and the education of their children at JCC.

The Visioning Activity was in response to a survey conducted by Mr. Schroeder and the 4 County Collaborative. 141 JCC students in grades 6-12 completed the voluntary survey. In total, 1,208 students from the 9 schools that comprise the 4 County Collaborative completed the survey. They were asked the following questions and gave the following responses:

• Overall, rate your community as a place to live as a teen (1-5, with 1 being poor and 5 being Excellent).
  • ALL = Poor (3.81%), 2 (12.27%), Average (46.77%), 4 (25.87%), Excellent (11.28%)
  • JCC = Poor (0.72%), 2 (10.79%), Average (43.88%), 4 (27.34%), Excellent (17.27%)
• What changes would you like to see that would make your community a better place to live? (Please rank the following list from 1 as your highest priority to 4 your lowest.)
  1. More entertainment and recreation options.
  2. More local job opportunities for teens.
  3. More local shopping and restaurant options.
  4. More opportunities to be involved in community events and projects.
• What are your plans after high school graduation?
  • ALL = 4 yr college (53.28%), Comm. College (13.80%), Other (12.22%), Military (5.82%), Self Employment (1.58%), Tech School (4.32%), Work (8.98%)
  • JCC = 4 yr college (49.3%), Comm. College (15.49%), Other (13.38%), Military (10.56%), Self Employment (9.15%), Tech School (2.11%), Work (0.0%)
• If quality career or business ownership opportunities were available, how likely is it that you would prefer to stay in this area to live after graduating high school (1-5, with 1 being Not Very Likely and 5 being Very Likely)?
  • ALL = Not Very Likely (20.45%), 2 (18.37%), Somewhat Likely (35.58%), 4 (15.21%), Very Likely (10.39%)
  • JCC = Not Very Likely (21.28%), 2 (16.31%), Somewhat Likely (30.50%), 4 (17.73%), Very Likely (14.18%)
• If quality career or business ownership opportunities were available, how likely is it that you would prefer to return in the future to this area to live (1-4, with 1 being Not Very Likely and 5 being Very Likely)?
  • ALL = Not Very Likely (11.68%), 2 (18.68%), Somewhat Likely (36.70%), 4 (19.35%), Very Likely (13.59%)
  • JCC = Not Very Likely (10.79%), 2 (17.99%), Somewhat Likely (31.65%), 4 (22.30%), Very Likely (17.27%)
• What career fields are you currently considering?  Top 6 percentages:
  • 31.88% - Agriculture, Food or Natural Resources
  • 22.46% - Health Science
  • 21.01% - Education or Training
  • 20.29% - STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math)
  • 18.12% - Architecture or Construction
  • 18.12% - Arts, A/V Technology or Communication
• Do you have a small business right now (i.e. livestock, craft-making,game design, etc.)?
  • ALL = Yes (11.30%), No (88.70%)
  • JCC = Yes (9.22%), No (90.78%)
• Do you have an interest in owning your own business in the future?
  • ALL = Yes (46.22%), No (53.78%)
  • JCC = Yes (44.68%), No (55.32%)
• Would you be interested in taking an entrepreneurship class to get hands-on experience in starting your own business?
  • ALL = Yes (54.41%), No (45.59%)
  • JCC = Yes (58.57%), No (41.43%)
• At this time, do you picture yourself living in this area in the future, perhaps after you graduate from high school or college, get some career experience or decide to start a family?
  • ALL =  Yes (54.88%), No (45.12%)
  • JCC = Yes (55%), No (45%)
• What are some of the reasons you would picture yourself living in this area in the future? Top 5 responses:
  1. Family ties in the community.
  2. Good place to raise a family.
  3. Cost of living is less.
  4. Job or business opportunity.
  5. Quality school.
• What are some of the reasons you would not picture yourself living in this area in the future?
  1. Make more money elsewhere.
  2. Career opportunity elsewhere.
  3. Too few shopping options.
  4. Lack of entertainment.
  5. Community too small.
  6. Encouraged to leave.
• Have adults in your community asked your views on what would make this community a better place to live for teens?
  • ALL = Yes (12.26%), No (87.74%)
  • JCC = Yes (9.29%), No (90.71%)
• If an adult leader asked you to become involved in making your community better, would you volunteer?
  • ALL = Yes (68.28%), No (31.72%)
  • JCC = Yes (76.26%), No (23.74%)