The Portage School Division Board of Trustees is pleased with parent participation numbers following the parent, teacher, and student-led conferences last week. Superintendent Hazen Barrett says the figures are very encouraging. Depending on the school, anywhere from 2/3 to almost 100% participation was noted and Barrett feels it's great to see the majority of parents come out. He adds not only does it mean a lot to the staff but more importantly it means a lot to the kids. Barrett says there's a lot of evidence that shows parent participation in a child's education leads to greater success and it's important for a parent to see the work a child is doing and what's happening in the classroom. He adds it's also a great way for parents to stay informed and in touch.