Today is the final day to give feedback on the Troy City School system survey as part of a study to improve on the system.

“I would encourage everybody to take the opportunity to provide feedback on the system and thank the Chamber for hosting the survey,” said Mayor Jason Reeves. “Everyone in Troy has a vested interest in the system and we are interested in their opinions.”

Troy Mayor Jason Reeves and Dr. Joe Morton, director of the BEA, announced the survey at a meeting of the Troy Elementary PTO on September 18. The survey is accessible now on the Pike County Chamber of Commerce website or at surveymonkey.com/r/TCS-survey.

The questions include simple demographic questions, such as whether the participant is a current student in the system, the parent of a student, an employee of the system or otherwise.

It also includes ranking the areas that most need improvement and that the system does best in key categories including curriculum and instruction, facilities, adequate funding and financial stability, technology supporting instruction, community partnerships, communications with parents and extracurricular activities.

It concludes with open-ended questions about the greatest challenges and opportunities for the system moving forward.

Morton said it is critical for the community to be involved in the process.

“If everyone that takes the survey doesn’t highlight any opportunities or anything to improve on, it won’t be much of a roadmap,” Morton said. “That’s why this is so important.”

The results will be displayed collectively, not individually, which Reeves said residents need to feel free to give completely honest feedback.

“We want to know the good and the bad,” Reeves said. “We want to fix whatever needs fixing. This is an honest opportunity for honest feedback. It’s about getting better.”

The study comes at a time where the Board of Education is facing a budget shortfall of $365,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. Mickey Daughtry, board CFO, said board officials have been working with city officials to find new possible revenues for the board with no success so far. The board discussed Monday the potential of a raise in the millage rate to cover the gap, but the process would have to go through the state legislature and the citizens of Troy to be approved.