by KIM HILSENBECK
The results from the first ever district-wide satisfaction surveys at Hays CISD are in. District officials say the news is good, but a more detailed campus-by-campus look at the data may not be as rosy.
Hays CISD embarked on a two-pronged research project last fall to survey the community and employees about their satisfaction with the district. They collected data earlier this spring.
Tim Savoy, Hays CISD spokesman, said the district has not yet completed its own in-depth analysis of the campus-level data.
“The next step … includes the superintendent meeting with each campus principal individually to review and reflect on the results. The conversations will include areas of strength and areas of concern.”
Based on the survey results, principals at several schools, including Negley Elementary and Science Hall Elementary, along with Dahlstrom and Barton middle schools, may be having different conversations with Lyon than those at Elm Grove, Carpenter Hill and other schools with higher scores.
Employees at Negley, Science Hall, Dahlstrom and Barton had some of the lowest scores for things like satisfaction with campus-level communication, having a principal who is effective in leading to achieve goals, and agreeing the instructional program enables students to master the curriculum.
While nearly all employees gave high scores (above 94 percent) on satisfaction issues such as ‘I like the work I do’ and ‘my job challenges me,’ just over 80 percent would recommend Hays CISD as a good place to work.
Why?
With the budget woes of the last few years, Hays CISD employees may still feel the sting of being one of the lowest paid districts in Central Texas. The survey data itself does not offer an answer; neither does the administration.
Savoy said it was too early to provide any insight on the results, citing the upcoming work on the results and meetings with campus administrators.
“Until that work is complete, I don’t want to speculate on what a set of responses may or may not mean,” Savoy said.
Several campuses also had much lower than average scores on the student code of conduct being consistently and fairly enforced and faculty having the appropriate assistance to resolve disciplinary problems. Tobias Elementary, Barton Middle School, Lehman High School and Live Oak Academy had exceptionally low scores on these factors.
On the community survey, high schools received lower scores than middle and elementary schools for encouraging students to do their best and having high expectations for academic success.
Scores for “all students are provided equal opportunities for learning” and “staff respects cultural diversity” fell into that same pattern, where elementary schools outpaced middle and high schools.
Eighty-eight percent of community respondents think students receive a good education at Hays CISD; however, only 70 percent think the district spends tax dollars wisely. Sixty-four percent think the district allows them to provide feedback on major decisions.
Though district officials said they are not – not yet, anyway – considering a uniform dress code, they asked the question to gauge parent interest. Several campuses had scores in the 60s. Elm Grove Elementary had the lowest score (about 42 percent) while respondents from Pfluger Elementary had a 74 percent interest level. The Impact Center had the highest score, though less than 10 surveys were collected from that campus.
Savoy said the district will use information from both surveys extensively in future planning and decision making. The Board of Trustees and the district plan to conduct these satisfaction surveys annually.
The full results from both surveys are available on the Hays CISD website.
Please see page 3B of the June 6th edition for results of the employee survey and support of the uniform dress code.
