As part of their regular agenda Wednesday evening, USD 253 Emporia Board of Education members were able to review several findings from a recent district-wide “stay survey.”
The survey was sent out in February and aimed to identify many of the key factors that are both keeping staff within the district and those that may be driving them away. In terms of the reasons for staying, relationships with colleagues and students were the top responses while salary, workload and culture and climate were noted as the top three reasons individuals would leave.
Superintendent Dr. Allison Anderson Harder says these responses, namely salary, did not come as much of a surprise.
During the presentation, several board members noted their concern with the response of climate and culture of which more than 53 percent of the 387 respondents noted as the key reason they would leave. Board member Dr. Jennifer Thomas says her concerns lied both with the percentage and the broadness of the subject.
Board member Jamie Reever agrees climate and culture is a “broad” subject, however, she believes it is one that can be more easily addressed than others as it is traditionally handled internally.
On a positive note, Anderson Harder tells KVOE News that “accountability” was very low on the list of factors that would cause staff to leave the district.
The full survey presentation can be found online at USD253.org.
In other business, staff members of William Allen White Elementary School presented a school improvement update as it pertains to student success. According to the presentation, students have seen great improvement in both reading and math over the past year since the adoption of new learning resources through Envision.
Principal Tell Kirk says Envision is a program that “checks all of the boxes” when it comes to student success.
Wednesday’s presentation also noted improvements in social-emotional learning with a noted decrease in student office referrals, increased student leadership and collaboration across all grades and enhance staff collaboration. Kirk concluded the evening’s presentation Wednesday saying “I feel fortunate to come to work there every day.”
During the consent agenda portion of the meeting, board members also approved the hiring of Kaden Glinsman of Polson High School in Polson, Montana as Emporia High School’s next head football coach. You can find more information on this story on the sports page.
The USD 253 Emporia Board of Education will next convene Wednesday, June 14 at 6:30 pm inside of the Mary Herbert Education Center.
