Norwalk Public Schools Parent and Staff Surveys November

Norwalk Public Schools Parent and Staff Surveys November 1, 2011

Survey Committee � Joseph Giandurco, Teacher � Sally Grose, Community � Lisa Lenskold, PTOC President � Bruce Le. Vine Mellion, NFT President � Robert Polselli, Director of Technology � Lisa Brinton Thomson, Parent � Susan Marks, Superintendent

Process � Met over a dozen times � Used other surveys as a guide � Identified areas to ask questions about � Identified similar areas for staff and parents to give input � Translated the survey into Spanish � Used Survey Monkey � Posted for several weeks in May and June

Content of Parent Survey � Student progress and expectations � School atmosphere � School leadership � Safety and security � Technology � School meals � Facilities � Transportation

Content of Staff Survey � Student learning � Staff expectations � Professional development � Technology � Safety and Security � School leadership � School atmosphere � Facilities

Response Rate � 90. 8% of the respondents were white � 1189 staff members completed the survey - � 1050 parents responded 80% ◦ Rates varied by schools ◦ About 20%

Purpose of Survey � Obtain perceptions of the school learning environment from parents and staff � Findings for 2010 -12 are a baseline � The focus is on continuous improvement – not a “gotcha” � Interpretation of the feedback should take into consideration that this is the first time we have given a survey

Parent Survey

Staff Survey

Outcomes - Overall � Positive feelings � Parents and staff throughout the district take pride in their schools � The individual school is perceived more positively than the system as a whole

Instruction and Professional Development � Staff expectations of students are high across the district � Staff had concerns about needing more instructional materials, interruptions and training for special needs children � Staff is more interested in receiving focused professional development

Technology � Parents felt that although the district website was reported as informative, the individual schools websites were less helpful � Teachers and parents agreed that NPS need more up-to-date technology in the schools

School Leadership � Parents felt that the school leadership supports the PTO � Staff would like more involvement in decisions affecting their work

School Safety � Parents felt that their children are safe in the Norwalk Public Schools � Parents bullying � Parents are concerned about teasing and did not feel well informed with regard to the emergency procedures

Facilities � Both parents and staff felt that our schools were clean and well kept � Parents helpful � The felt that the custodians were kind and bathrooms and the grounds are kept neat

Atmosphere - Climate � Staff felt they get satisfaction from their work � Many of the staff said that they would recommend their school site as a place to work

Transportation � Most parents felt that the bus drivers maintain order � Parents felt that the bus drivers drive safely

PTO � More than half the parents completing the survey volunteer for the PTO

Next Steps � Each school is sharing the information with staff and parents � The committee will meet to review and revise the survey questions for 2011 -12 � Student � We surveys will be developed in 2011 -12 will try to reach out to the whole community for increased participation