<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div>Dear Fellow Superintendents:<br><p class="MsoNormal">
<br>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My name is Robert Hlasko and I am a doctoral student at the
University of Findlay and a current school superintendent.<span> </span>As part of my doctoral studies, I am
conducting research on the educational mission(s) of K-12 schools.<span> </span>I hope to learn, without prejudice, what
stakeholder groups believe the educational mission(s) of K-12 schools in Ohio
to be and whether or not those stakeholders believe that schools are meeting
that mission(s).<span> </span>The goal of the study
is to inform stakeholders and, specifically, future policy decisions regarding
education at a local and state level.<span> </span>I
am contacting you to ask you to consider distributing the following information
to your educational staff and parents of students in your district.<span><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If teachers, school administrators, or other educational
support staff are willing to participate in this voluntary study they will need
to attend a focus group of 5-12 individuals.<span>
</span>Pending your approval, I will conduct the separate focus groups (one for
educators and one for parents) in an evening at a school building in your
district.<span> </span>I will ask each group the same
three questions along with various follow-up questions and prompts based on
their responses.<span> </span>Each focus group is
expected to last approximately one hour depending on length of responses and
discussion.<span> </span>Additionally, participants
will be asked to complete an anonymous seven question demographic survey which
should take no longer than ten minutes to complete.<span> </span>With your permission, I will provide light
snacks and refreshments at the focus group session.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Beyond the initial RSVP and subsequent signing of a consent
form at the focus group session, all participants’ identities will be kept confidential
and only identified in any analysis by first name and an assigned
identification number.<span> </span>To be clear, any
information that is obtained in connection with this study and that can be
identified with you will remain confidential and will not be disclosed.<span> </span>If anyone should decide to participate, they
are free to discontinue participation at any time without prejudice.<span> </span>Aside from the time required to participate
in the focus group and complete the demographic survey the risks to
participants are less than minimal.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you have you any questions please do not hesitate to
ask. If you are, indeed, willing to allow dissemination of a recruitment letter to your staff and/or parents please communicate with me via email or phone so that I may coordinate the effort within any guidelines required by your district. <span></span>If you have any additional
questions at a later time, you may also contact the chair of my dissertation
committee, Dr. Kathleen Crates at <a href="tel:419-434-6552" value="+14194346552" target="_blank">419-434-6552</a> or via email at <a href="mailto:crates@findlay.edu" target="_blank">crates@findlay.edu</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:crates@findlay.edu" target="_blank"><br></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you in advance for your consideration of my request.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><br>
Sincerely, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><br>
Robert Hlasko</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal">Doctoral Student</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal">The University of Findlay</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><a href="tel:419-963-3415" value="+14199633415" target="_blank">419-963-3415</a> (office)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><a href="mailto:hlasko@cory-rawson.org" target="_blank">hlasko@cory-rawson.org</a></p>
<br></div></div></div><div><div><div><div><div>-- <br><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div>
<p><a name="-2097554540_211633627_700438094_UNIQUE_ID_SafeHtmlFilter__MailAutoSig"><span style="font-size:20pt;font-family:"Brush Script MT"">Bob Hlasko<br></span></a></p><span><span>Superintendent<br></span></span></div><span><span>Cory-Rawson Local Schools<br></span></span></div><span><span>3930 CR 26<br></span></span></div><span><span>Rawson, OH 45881<br><br><a href="tel:419-963-3415" value="+14199633415" target="_blank">419-963-3415</a><br></span></span></div></div>
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