Proposed initiatives to help poorly performing students gained some parent support.

Asurvey given at three parent meetings hosted by Bismarck Public Schools show parents want the district to spend money on poorly performing students. The Bismarck School Board discussed the results of the parent meeting survey at its meeting Monday.

"There's pretty much universal agreement," to help poorly performing students, Superintendent Paul Johnson said.

Using a remote-control-like device, the nearly 300 participants showed how strongly they agreed or disagreed with potential remedies. They also could vote "don't know/no opinion." The remedies included tutoring, replacing an elective with tutoring, lengthening the school day, and changing the attendance policy.

The majority of participants supported tutoring and replacing an elective, while no consensus was made on the lengthening of the school day. More people wanted a stricter attendance policy, but almost a quarter of participants voted "do not know/no opinion."

"The one Ifind most interesting is the attendance policy (question)," board member Marcia Olson said.

It could be that parents didn't understand the connection to attendance and achievement, in which students who are in class perform better on tests. It also could be that no specifics were given on how the attendance policy could change, board member Lawrence King said.

Perception on the district's attendance policy could vary from elementary and secondary parents, as well as individual experience, Johnson said.

The community may have another chance to participate in an upcoming school district decision. The board wants involvement on naming the new elementary school. It would like the process to be like it was for Horizon Middle School.

A name for the career and technical center will be decided differently because of concerns about identity, Johnson said.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)