Three different groups of people gave three different sets of answers in a survey of parents, staff and students commissioned by the Hastings School Board.
The survey was conducted in October by …
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Three different groups of people gave three different sets of answers in a survey of parents, staff and students commissioned by the Hastings School Board.
The survey was conducted in October by School Perceptions, a Wisconsin-based company that gathers data for school districts nationwide. Daren Sievers of School Perceptions told the school board at its November meeting that the company has helped 1,000 school districts with referendum surveying, gauging community support of financial referendum thresholds.
The district used School Perceptions in the fall to check the Hastings School District temperature prior to its successful referendum vote for additional capital for technology expenses.
This time, the survey was to get opinions on the district. Parents gave the district passing marks, students are very pleased with the school district and staff sees room for improvement.
In the parent survey, 18 percent responded for a total of 780.
The results:
“Parents are wanting a voice in planning the future of their schools” said Sievers.
The top five issues they identified were school safety (51%), recruiting and retaining high quality staff (46%), student behavior/discipline (44%), and mental health services and career and technology education opportunities both came in at 41%.
On a scale of 1-5, parents gave the district a 3.93 in keeping parents informed. Of parents surveyed, 76 percent said the district is doing what it takes to make the district successful, while 66 percent said the district is heading in the right direction. On whether the school board is doing what it takes to make the district successful, 62 percent said it is.
Sievers said he sees a lot of survey results where school board numbers aren’t as high.
“These are tough times for school boards. I give you credit,” he said.
Other findings from parents:
•89% said most days their child enjoys going to school.
•93% feel staff treats their child with dignity and respect.
•90% feel their child is treated fairly if they break a rule at school.
•98% said their child has access to reliable internet.
Sievers said that parent data was positive and would likely mean success for a referendum if the survey had been looking for that kind of input.
Things were less positive with the staff.
“This is going to be some tough data for you to look at,” he said.
However, he indicated that it also gives the district feedback on what can be worked on. There were 376 staff responses, or 67 percent.
The staff feels they do a good job educating students (97%). However, on a scale of 1-5, the district got a 2.91 on if it seeks input from a broad group of staff members. Only 37% said discipline is handled in a consistent manner.
In the staff survey, 62% think the district is headed in the right direction, while 77% answered in the affirmative to “most days I look forward to going to work.”
Staff doesn’t feel like classroom budgets are sufficient.
“They don’t feel like they have enough of what they need,” said Sievers.
Then came the student data.
“This is where this report kind of blew my mind. All this adult stuff, the kids are oblivious to it. They love you,” said Sievers.
The survey shows Hastings in the top 33 percent of all schools nationwide on students liking school. In addition, the district is in the top 18 percent of all schools when it comes to the connection students feel with students and school staff. The district is in the top 23% of whether students feel they are being challenged and classes are interesting. Students think it’s a good learning environment where they’re accepted, respected and have support. Students feel like if they were bullied, they would feel comfortable talking about it, and that teachers treat them with respect. The district plans to conduct the survey annually.
“This feedback is energizing,” said Board Chair Lisa Hedin. “I’m just excited on boards going forward to have this data on hand. This feels very valuable.”
Director Mark Zuzek said there are areas on the staff survey that the district shouldn’t have difficulty getting more positive answers on by next year.
“There’s a few crashing lightning bolts we can take care of, low hanging fruit,” he said.
Sievers said that in such a case, it will move the needle next year.
“Staff feels, ‘We were surveyed, and we actually were heard,’” he said.
Superintendent Dr. Tamara Champa said the district was “rolling up their sleeves” to put the data to use.
