This is what Philadelphians said they want in a school board

The Mayor’s Office of Education just released the results of a citywide survey asking what residents, parents, School District of Philadelphia employees and students want to see their forthcoming Board of Education tackle first.

Results from the Community Survey on Education will inform the school district’s board nominating panel — which includes professionals such as Fairmount Park Conservancy ED Jamie Gauthier and Steppingstone Scholars President Sean Vereen — as it moves forward in recommending individuals to serve on the permanent school board, as well as inform that future board on issues of concern.

According to the city, 3,062 people took the survey in five languages and represented every residential ZIP code in Philadelphia.

Survey respondents overall are most concerned with these five issues:

• Improving school climate
• Investing in music and arts curriculum
• Increasing literacy levels by fourth grade
• Adding social services supports
• Maintaining and improving building facilities

They also varied in their expectations of the school board’s overall attributes:

• 22 percent of respondents said it’s most important that the board’s members are committed to public education
• 17 percent said qualifications of backgrounds of members matter most
• 17 percent said representation of various neighborhoods matters most
• 16 percent said diversity of demographics matters most
• 13 percent said diversity of education and income levels matters most
• 9 percent said a balance of district-run and charter school parents and graduates matters most
• 6 percent said a mix of lifelong and new Philadelphians matters most

Four hundred and fifty-eight Philadelphians applied to join the school board. Mayor Jim Kenney will receive recommendations for board members from the nominating panel by Feb. 28.

The school board will replace the School Reform Commission, the district’s state-appointed governing body since 2001, in June.