R-6 School District: Citizens add their input to discussion

SIKESTON -- A group of Sikeston citizens will continue work to strengthen the relationship between the Sikeston R-6 School District and the community as it reconvenes this school year.

"It's Sikeston Public Schools trying to understand what they can do better," said Glen Cantrell of Sikeston, who is a member of the citizens group. "They're trying to understand what things they should do differently and to have better communication with the community."

After the April 2014 ballot issue was defeated, the Sikeston R-6 District hired Patron Insight Inc. based in Stilwell, Kan., to conduct an online community survey with staff and community members.

"They could log on and weigh in with their thoughts," said Ken DeSieghardt, CEO and partner of Patron Insight. "That research suggested that the district and community had to step up their communication with each other."

DeSieghardt and Rick Nobles, president and partner of Patron Insight, then worked with the district for six months to facilitate the citizens advisory committee comprised of a variety of residents.

"The district did a very good job of identifying a nice cross-section of residents and actively inviting them through written communication with letters," DeSieghardt said.

The group, called the Citizens Advisory Committee, first met in November 2014.

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