by KIM HILSENBECK
Conclusions of a survey put together for Hays CISD by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) shows a mixed bag of results – with positive statements and the number of respondents declining, even while the district gets a decent overall approval rating.
This is the second survey of employees, parents and community members conducted by TASB. Rhonda Baumen of TASB presented the results at the regular June board meeting, after the March 2013 survey.
The survey cost the district approximately $20,000; the final bill from TASB is not in, according to Hays CISD spokesperson Tim Savoy.
This year’s employee survey response rate decreased from 63 percent to 50 percent. With fewer responses, the margin of error at the 95 percent confidence level went from +/- 1.56 percent last year to +/- 2.02 percent this year.
More than half of all employee responses were from teachers. Ten percent of responses came from auxiliary staff while 8 percent each came from clerical staff and employees with other professional positions. An additional 6 percent came from instructional aides. Campus and district administrators comprised a total of 6 percent of the responses. Employees considered non-campus professional, other and unidentified jobs comprised the remaining 6 percent of responses.
Overall for the employee survey, what is important to employees changed from last year’s results. In the previous survey, 83 percent of employees identified their relationship with supervisors as important, compared to only 42 percent this year.
The importance of meaningful work also decreased from 83 percent of employees who said it was important last year to 71 percent this year.
Relationships with coworkers dropped from 68 percent to 61 percent from last year’s survey. The importance of compensation and benefits also decreased from 70 percent in 2012 to 61 percent this year.
Depending on coworkers and feeling their team works well together both increased in this year’s survey, from 90 to 95 percent and from 90 to 92 percent, respectively.
A new question this year asked if employees were proud to work for Hays CISD; 93 percent said yes. Pride in an employee’s campus results saw a modest decrease over last year, from 90 to 86 percent.
Teachers who felt they have sufficient access to instructional technology dropped from 81 percent last year to 63 percent this year.
Satisfaction with teacher resources for special populations also decreased from 64 to 56 percent year over year.
Less than 70 percent of teachers felt involved in decisions about instructional issues.
Feeling the student code of conduct was being consistently enforced increased from 61 to 65 percent from last year to this year.
Being given appropriate assistance to resolve disciplinary problems in the classroom also went up, from 68 to 78 percent.
About 70 percent of employees think the district does an excellent job at striving to be a responsible steward of resources. About 19 percent say it does a fair job, while 9 percent say it needs improvement in this area.
Fourteen percent of employees who responded said Hays CISD needs improvement in the area of making decisions based on what is best for students while 15 percent said the district is doing a fair job at that already.
Just under 70 percent labeled the district’s work in this area as excellent or good.
In the family and community survey, the response rate was just under 20 percent. At the 95 percent confidence level, the margin of error was +/- 2.2 percent. The vast majority of respondents in this survey were parents or guardians.
Preferred information topics were student progress, specific campus events, and student safety incidents and precautions taken by district.
While there was strong agreement (more than 90 percent each) that Hays CISD implements sound environmental practices, provides quality student health services, keeps buildings well maintained and provides quality transportation services, only 67 percent believe the district spends tax dollars wisely.
Seventy-one percent of respondents on this survey think students are well prepared for success after they leave school.
Seventy-three percent think the district makes decisions based on what is best for students and does not compromise excellence.
Savoy said the full report will be posted on the district website.
