MREA Membership Survey Results are In
Over 98% of MREA members would recommend MREA to a friend or colleague.
Each year MREA gathers input and feedback from our members through a membership survey. Over 200 education leaders responded to the survey this year, including superintendents, administrators, principals, teachers, and school board members.
This year’s membership survey was especially insightful as our team works on a strategic plan to guide our leadership team the next 3-5 years.
MREA was humbled by the high praises and positive survey results. The results highlighted strengths, helped us identify opportunities, and confirmed MREA’s key initiatives.
Strengths::
- 98.04% were satisfied with their MREA membership
- 98.01% of respondents are likely to recommend MREA to a colleague
- MREA’s Insider Brief is the most valued communication at over 96% satisfaction
- 99.51% of respondents find MREA’s communications valuable
- 98.53% are satisfied with MREA’s legislative advocacy
- 98.02% feel MREA’s membership is valuable to them
- 75% of districts do not take advantage of MREA’s member-discounted programs
Opportunities::
- Social Media. About 30% of MREA members find our social media presence valuable, with many citing that they weren’t aware of MREA’s social media presence.
- Member-discount programs. Only 25% of MREA’s membership takes advantage of member-discount programs like EmpowerU, OntoCollege or Valaar Insurance. This is largely because members don’t feel informed about the availability of these programs.
Strategic Planning
As MREA develops a strategic plan to guide our leadership team for the next 3-5 years, survey respondents recommended we:
- Continue to fight for rural educational issues at the capitol,
- continue to collaborate with other educational organizations,
- find ways to share what other rural districts are doing successfully,
- and improve engagement of teachers in our organization.
Conference Updates
Though there’s incredible value in a district sending a whole team to the Annual Conference, the biggest reason that districts don’t send a team is staffing/subbing constraints and distance from their district. MREA is considering additional options to engage additional people and positions from each district.
Regarding conference logistics, MREA recently went through an RFP process to identify other venue options for our event. Keeping the event in Greater Minnesota was a priority as we identified potential hosts. Ultimately, with an effort to keep costs relatively flat for attendees and provide an exceptional attendee experience, our board decided to keep the conference at Cragun’s on Gull Lake through 2025.
Overall, MREA is thrilled to have strong support from our members. The large majority of members are happy that MREA represents rural Minnesota Schools at the Capitol, appreciate the succinct communications, and appreciate a conference that is specifically for rural districts.
You are part of a team of 234 districts that know we have a stronger voice together. Thank you for being a member of MREA!
