About
Located in Kernville, California, Kernville Union School District serves roughly 800 students in a small rural community. The district began using Parsec Real in August 2025 to gather more timely, focused parent voice.
For their school meal program, Kernville USD used Parsec Real to hear from parents and caregivers about recent changes to breakfast and lunch. One short Real, shared through ParentSquare, generated 595 submissions from 75 families.
Key Points
595 total submissions from 75 parent respondents
Feedback collected through sending a Real link through ParentSquare
Themes and highlights analyzed in minutes, not weeks
Problem
Kernville USD had recently improved its breakfast and lunch program but needed a fast, simple way to understand whether families noticed the changes and what still needed work. Traditional surveys were long, slow, and offered little insight.
Solution
Using Parsec Real, the district sent a short meal-program feedback Real through ParentSquare. In minutes, leaders collected clear, theme based insights from 75 families without sorting or analyzing data by hand.
Impact
The Real confirmed through parent voices that improvements were being made—rating quality, variety, and nutrition far higher than before. The district now plans to use Real year-round, replacing long annual surveys with ongoing, actionable feedback.
“It’s super helpful, and the reason why is because it’s in the name – it’s real. You can collect information and address it without having to wait.”
– Dr. Steven Martinez, Superintendent
Their Real Experience
Kernville USD used Parsec Real to ask parents about food quality, variety, and nutrition—especially after shifting away from prepackaged breakfasts toward more hot, freshly prepared options. Real organized all 595 submissions instantly, giving the district a clear picture of how families perceived the improvements.
After making significant updates to their breakfast and lunch offerings, Kernville USD needed a quick way to gauge whether families noticed the changes and how they felt about nutrition, variety, and quality.
Using Parsec Real, the district collected hundreds of parent reflections through ParentSquare in just a few days. Instead of combing through Google Form responses or manually reviewing comments, Real provided organized themes, trends, and highlights—making it easy for leadership to understand what was working and what still needed attention.
What They Found
Parents shared a mix of positive and constructive feedback, giving the district clear signals about where their updated meal program was succeeding and where improvements could continue.
What Stood Out
- 55% of families rated breakfast quality as excellent or good
- ~63% said they liked the variety
- Nearly three-quarters of parents rated the meals as nutritious—a notable contrast from previous concerns about excessive sugar and prepackaged items
- Families appreciated seeing more hot breakfast options now that the district increased staffing
- Real’s highlights and theme analysis made it easy for Steven to share results with staff and prepare to brief the board
The district now plans to use Parsec Real throughout the year, replacing their long annual LCAP survey with monthly, focused Real runs aligned to LCAP goals. The tool is already shaping professional development, guiding adjustments to events like all-staff days, and helping leadership respond to feedback during the year—not months later.
