Presenting a Public Interest Survey for West Windsor Township

As a public high school English teacher, I regularly "check the pulse" of the classroom through survey students. 

Evaluative surveys prompt students to think metacognitively about learning strategies, desired outcomes, and their role in the classroom. Analyzing their feedback makes me a better teacher - it allows me to target instruction, support students, and improve outcomes.

With that framing in mind, I organized a public interest survey for West Windsor.

The survey (which takes 5-10 minutes to complete), is open to all residents of West Windsor, aged are 17 and over, is linked to here.

A few notes on what this project hopes to accomplish and the methodology.

Would our township be served if municipal leadership knew how their constituents felt about the issues? I believe so.

This survey promotes productive conversations about the critical issues facing our town. By understanding the township’s sensibilities, we can more confidently build consensus around the issues that matter the most. We can work in a collaborative manner to form coalitions to get the work done.

Here are some additional ways this survey serves the public interest:

*Residents are reminded of the most pressing issues facing the town and the general options leaders have. Perhaps the questions encourage more folks to get involved.

*Township and county officials will see what their constituents believe. Municipal leadership may better align their decision making process with the town’s beliefs and priorities.

*Having difficult discussions about West Windsor’s direction can be useful. Especially if we can base conversations in objective data points. Let’s leave behind the belligerent bickering on social media; instead, let’s build a collaborative, constructive, and data-driven approach.

In an effort to be transparent, I’d like to summarize how this came together.

This project was inspired by many conversations I’ve had talking with my neighbors. We must face collective issues and we need better tools to propel the dialogue forward.

So I wrote these questions. I tried to focus on the most salient issues facing our local leaders; questions that impact the greatest number of residents.

I sought input from a number of community leaders, including from members of the PTA, town council, and my lovely wife Dr. Mondestin. I admit that I consulted ChatGPT, especially to help me word questions in as unbiased manner as possible.

Of course, if there is any mistake of any kind, it is entirely my fault. I am not a professional pollster and I don’t expect this to turn into my day job anytime soon.

I understand that this survey is built on trust. For example it wouldn’t be impossible for folks from Plainsboro to say they were from West Windsor, or for 14 year olds to say they were 17.

Despite the obvious imperfections of my methodology and the limitations of my own abilities, I firmly believe that this survey can provide extremely useful data points. In the age of division and gross misinformation, we need usable data that helps us think clearly about what matters to our township’s future. We must chart a path that allows us to come together as a community in an effort to solve our collective issues equitably, sustainably, and inclusively.

The survey runs from March 17th, 2025 to April 17th, 2025.

Results will be published on the West Windsor Voice.