Addressing concerns regarding recent Matchmaker survey

Concerns regarding a student-selected fundraising activity were brought to the attention of the Pierz School Board at the recent February meeting and the Morrison County Record published a story presenting their opinion of the events. The survey, and subsequent Morrison County article, caused concern among students and staff. The information below provides answers to questions surrounding that event. Much of this information was sent to the Morrison County Record as well, but did not make the published story. The full list of questions and a sample student report were also provided and can be found here along with survey questions from previous years. 

• The survey itself was picked out by the members of the Junior High Student Council.  The company they work with has 10 or more different options that have minor variations to the questions. 
• The advisor assumed it was okay as this was a fundraising event the school had been doing for years.  
• During the implementation of the survey, there were questions raised if it is required and staff and students were told it is not.  It was intended to be a fun event and fundraising activity.
• The implementation of the survey was done by the fundraising company where a link was opened for students for a period of time to allow them to fill it out. None of the data goes to the school, nor is the data saved on the servers of the company providing the survey. 
• The student responses then generate a report students can pay for if they want. The report only shows the names of other students who had a high percentage of responses like theirs, and others who had a high percentage unlike theirs; answers to specific questions are not shared with any other students or staff. 
  
  

We apologize for the concerns and challenges this event created.  We are taking steps to build greater scrutiny and policy into any surveys that are provided to students and staff.  To be clear, this was not an event by the school that gathered any information about anyone.  But despite that fact, it is clear that we as a school can be more vigilant regarding any surveys students or staff take part in.