ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. -- Anne Arundel County school officials are using surveys to learn what's on the minds of thousands of parents.

Surveys To Gauge Parents' Thoughts

The 19 survey questions will include everything from school programs to bullying. The goal is to hear what parents are saying about the schools their children attend.

"You want to know if their schools are friendly, if their schools are welcoming, if their schools do a good job of informing parents and students of what's going on in the schools and the greater community," said county school spokesman Bob Mosier.

The survey can be completed online in a matter of minutes by logging onto the school system's Web site. Some parents said they're eager to get started.

"I think it's a great idea that they want to know what parents are thinking. I think parents need to be involved in what's going on at the schools. They need to know and give feedback to the administration about how their kids are doing," said parent Mary Wallingsford.

School officials plan to use a second parent survey to find out about possible incidents of bullying. Officials said they believe it's sure to generate a lot of parent and student feedback.

Tim Munity, the head of the county's teachers union, said he supports the school system's approach to learning more about bullying.

"It's important that all of us involved with children understand the ramifications of e-mails and cell phones and all the ways that kids have to communicate not only with other children but with people throughout the world. We don't know who they are talking to," Munity said.

"We want to do whatever we can to make sure students are safe in school. We want to know if they are feeling threatened or harassed and what schools are doing about that in response," Mosier said.

Parents will be able to take both surveys online by clicking on the link above. They can also take them at school computer labs during next week's parent-teacher conference nights.