The final results of a survey asking district parents their opinion about the quantity and type of homework their students receive in township schools still are being prepared, after about 1,900 parents filed answers in October for the online survey.

Time especially is needed to compile and present the 900 or so submitted comments within the parents survey that were submitted along with the multiple choice survey, Sean Siet, the school district's director of curriculum, told the Board of Education at a meeting on Monday night.

"Parents wrote a tremendous amount," Siet told school officials. He said he has a general idea of what the survey results are, but has not yet finished preparing a package for a report.

Siet said about 3,300 students in grades 6 to 12 also filled out surveys about homework. The survey for parents was distributed on the basis of one per child in all grade levels, but board members pointed out that the issue of homework — and specifically whether heavy loads of afterschool assignments are causing too much stress for students — is not really an issue for the lower grades.

"We are doing a teacher-designed survey in the next week or so specifically for teachers," Siet added.

Some of the questions on the survey sent to parents asked whether homework given could be considered as essential; whether homework should be academic in nature; and whether the quantity is too much, too little or just right. Parents also were asked whether their students required tutoring, and where they received the extra help.

In a message sent out with the parent survey, Siet said results would be shared as soon as collated, and updated homework procedures based on the results would be shared later in the year.

The survey is part of a study that the Board of Education is undergoing regarding "student stressors," in particular at the middle school and high school level, or grades 6 to 12.

According to a Friday Folder message and remarks at a previous school board meeting by the school's superintendent, Valerie Goger, a second survey regarding student stress will be issued later during the school year.

The issue of student stress also was addressed at a recent showing of the movie, "Race to Nowhere," and a discussion that followed afterward about the issues raised in the movie. On Monday, Ridge High School Principal Frank Howlett conveyed a rundown of the discussion. He said he advised parents to know their child's capabilities when planning a schedule at the comprehensive high school. He said Ridge offers course selections for every student, whether they are planning to attend a tier-one college, or seek vocational training.

On Monday, Board Member Michael Byrne again offered his opinion that the school district would be doing a disservice to students by cutting back on the rigor of courses.

"We live in a very competitive world and if we back down on what the students are going to need to perform well, then we are going to hurt them," Byrne said. "Student surveys aren't the only answers."

At previous board meetings, other board members said they want to possibly reduce certain types of homework without reducing academic rigor of the classes offered.