Patch Poll: Should 113 Raw Data Be Shared?

When Sam Shapiro resigned from the Township High School District 113 Leadership committee Wednesday in part because of the failure of the District to release raw data from its community survey, it touched a nerve with Patch readers.

Patch now wants to know whether its readers want the raw data released. Our latest unscientific poll will measure a people’s opinions. We have also  made a request to the District for the information under the Freedom of Information Act.

District 113 released its findings in March. A summary can be found on the District website.

At least 30 people added their comments to the article about Shapiro’s resignation renewing the debate that engulfed the community a year ago about the extent of the public will accept.

One reader, Tony Horwitz, sees both sides of the issue and is willing to let the data be available for some people.

“There are at least equally valid reasons for not releasing raw data as for allowing its release, Horwitz writes. “I personally wouldn't see the harm in it being available for outside review to individuals who have been previously involved in the.”

Ed Brill, also a Patch columnist, contends the raw data will give everyone involved a clearer picture. He also thinks it will increase the transparency of the process.

“All we have to go on are conclusions made by the market researcher, who in many cases did not back up assertions with the data from the survey and in some cases has even made assertions based on personal impressions under the awning of the research,” Brill writes.

Evelyn Woods is reluctant to see the data released to people who do not know how to interpret it. “Raw data in the hands of a person not qualified to accurately, dispassionately and with no inherent bias would serve no purpose,” she writes.

Another reader, David Greenberg, thinks the release of the data will help heal the differences in the community which have continued since the defeat of the referendum over a year ago.

“Given the level of distrust between the public and the District that came out during the past referendum, I believed that making the raw data available would help to engender trust through transparency,” Greenberg writes.

Eddie Jacobs, who opposed the referendum, has come to respect the process of the Board and the District in its pursuit of an acceptable plan for capital improvements to the schools.

“After seven months of getting educated by a host of professionals both on the committees and within the community I feel extremely confident in the work of the committees and with the recommendations that will come forth.”