Communication - Always an Issue, Often an Oversight

Pleasantdale School District 107 School Climate Staff Insights Survey - 2014 Communication  Comments/suggestions: -- I feel like there are many times that decisions are made without consulting staff. As for obtaining information, it seems like I always have to hear it through the grapevine. I never hear anything straight from the source. This can obviously be quite frustrating. -- There is a breakdown in communication in our school. -- We know the District Mission statement but not the strategic plans. They were mentioned when they were first looked at but have not been revisited since. We may also know the Mission statement but need to look at how do we make the students passionate learners. What techniques will allow for this. Also isn't it important to make your teachers passionate also? Shouldn't they receive positive reinforcements? If the negative is always stressed, that does not breed passionate teachers. Having been in Curriculum Council in the past, I am not sure at times where the initiatives came from and whether there was a clear vote by CC on whether to pursue it or not. The principal is an improvement from last year as for communication. There is still room for improvement but it is much better than the prior principal's communication. -- I feel communication is our biggest obstacle here at Pleasantdale. While I am kept informed about important information, it comes to us all over the place!! Mark's "In the Loop", Matt's "Matt's Minutes", Curriculum Council's Minutes, Lead teacher minutes....I mean, seriously...it takes forever to get through all the emails and remember where you read something! And there is clear communication from the Superintendent about initiatives, but there are TOO MANY of them! Communication is not our principal's strength...particularly returning emails in a timely fashion. -- It has been difficult to share personal opinions in the past. If it did not reflect the administrative opinion, it was not appreciated. It was easy to tell if you could share or if sharing would make a difference in a decision being forwarded. There were many times when it was easier to keep opinions to yourself because they were not going to change things and or the consequences for being perceived as a person who disagreed was not worth it. One would not be asked to be on special committees, or given the nod for leadership roles. They could not be "counted" on as a "yes" vote for an initiative being promoted so leave them behind. It is my experience that this is why it was easy to say that Curriculum Council made consensus decisions. I believe that communication of initiatives has been clear. The way we got to those decisions concerning the initiatives has been murky. -- 1. Because of the "trickle down" of information, I feel our principal is not able to effectively communicate or make needed decisions for us. 2. There is a huge lack of trust in our district. Not between staff as much as between the BOE, admin and teachers then feeling untrusted. -- I think there have been times when decisions are made and we find out at curriculum council, but the information isn't properly transferred from that point. This is tough because a lot of the ambiguity is also based on the state being confused about initiatives. -- I would not want to share ideas if the climate remains the same - if you disagree, you are punished. -- I have experienced communication from the superintendent and principal that has been untrue, which effects my trust. I have experienced not being asked when on a committee my opinion, because it was not the same as the superintendents. After addressing the situation I was ignored. -- Communication is poor and very LATE all the time. We are often asked to do important tasks, but with only a day or two's notice, and no extra plan time. Just do it! Meetings called with very short notice and having to get sub plans written cause teachers to spend way too much time after school and result in poor attitudes. Meetings we don't want or need, and all of a sudden told Be There. -- I am aware of the intiatives, but not always where they came from or how and when they will get done. I have ideas and opinions at meetings without feeling intimidated. Unfortunately, that is not the experience of some of my colleagues. From curricular issues to contractual issues, the reception to contrary points of view have not always been received with respect or fairness.

Pleasantdale School District 107 School Climate Staff Insights Survey - 2014 Results Summary Communication  Question: Please indicate your level of agreement for each item.  (items are sorted by average highest to lowest) Item Response Count %   I know what is expected of me at work. percentages based on n=74 Strongly agree 16 21.62 Agree 50 67.56 Disagree 6 8.1 Strongly disagree 2 2.7 Don't know/doesn't apply 0 0.0   Average Response: 3.97   s= 0.89   School/District communication to parents and community members is effective. percentages based on n=75 Strongly agree 3 4.0 Agree 41 54.66 Disagree 7 9.33 Strongly disagree 3 4.0 Don't know/doesn't apply 21 28.0 Average Response: 3.62   s= 0.83   I feel comfortable sharing my ideas and opinions in small group school/district meetings. percentages based on n=75 Strongly agree 8 10.66 Agree 51 68.0 Disagree 11 14.66 Strongly disagree 5 6.66 Don't know/doesn't apply 0 0.0   Average Response: 3.61   s= 1.08   Department information is communicated effectively to me. percentages based on n=75 Strongly agree 11 14.66 Agree 37 49.33 Disagree 14 18.66 Strongly disagree 5 6.66 Don't know/doesn't apply 8 10.66 Average Response: 3.52   s= 1.14   School information is communicated effectively to me. percentages based on n=75 Strongly agree 9 12.0 Agree 44 58.66 Disagree 16 21.33 Strongly disagree 6 8.0 Don't know/doesn't apply 0 0.0   Average Response: 3.45   s= 1.19   I have a good understanding of the District's goals. percentages based on n=75 Strongly agree 7 9.33 Agree 42 56.0 Disagree 19 25.33 Strongly disagree 5 6.66 Don't know/doesn't apply 2 2.66 Average Response: 3.36   s= 1.16   I am kept informed about matters important to my work. percentages based on n=75 Strongly agree 5 6.66 Agree 43 57.33 Disagree 22 29.33 Strongly disagree 5 6.66 Don't know/doesn't apply 0 0.0   Average Response: 3.28   s= 1.16   There is effective communication from my principal on key initiatives. percentages based on n=74 Strongly agree 10 13.51 Agree 34 45.94 Disagree 22 29.72 Strongly disagree 7 9.45 Don't know/doesn't apply 1 1.35 Average Response: 3.24   s= 1.28   District information is communicated effectively to me. percentages based on n=74 Strongly agree 3 4.05 Agree 40 54.05 Disagree 24 32.43 Strongly disagree 6 8.1 Don't know/doesn't apply 1 1.35 Average Response: 3.13   s= 1.16   I have a good understanding of the strategic plan. percentages based on n=75 Strongly agree 6 8.0 Agree 30 40.0 Disagree 28 37.33 Strongly disagree 7 9.33 Don't know/doesn't apply 4 5.33 Average Response: 3.0   s= 1.22   There is effective communication from the superintendent on key initiatives. percentages based on n=74 Strongly agree 4 5.4 Agree 28 37.83 Disagree 25 33.78 Strongly disagree 11 14.86 Don't know/doesn't apply 6 8.1 Average Response: 2.83   s= 1.23   I feel comfortable sharing my ideas and opinions in large group school/district meetings. percentages based on n=74 Strongly agree 3 4.05 Agree 26 35.13 Disagree 31 41.89 Strongly disagree 11 14.86 Don't know/doesn't apply 3 4.05 Average Response: 2.7   s= 1.21