© 2013 k12 insight central office climate survey results las cruces public schools march 3 - 28,...

© 2013 K12 Insight

Central Office Climate SurveyResults

Las Cruces Public SchoolsMarch 3 - 28, 2013

© 2013 K12 Insight

2

Overview

Las Cruces Public Schools invited staff, parents and community members to participate in a survey about their opinions of the school district as a whole.

Survey topics include:• School board and district leadership• Significant decisions and budget considerations• Quality of service• School operations • Communication

District staff members were sent an email invitation with a unique link to access the survey. Parents and community members for whom the district had email addresses were also sent an invitation with a unique link. The survey was also accessible through a public link on the district's website. The survey was available March 3 1 28, 2013.

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Participation Rate

Almost 2,000 people participated in the District Climate Survey. Parents and community members accounted for more than 1,000 responses. The response rate for staff members is 34%.

RespondingGroup

Number of Responses

(n)

Email Invitations Delivered(Nmax)

ResponseRate (%)

Staff Members 921 2,676 34%

RespondingGroup

Number of Responses

(n) Email Access Public Access

Parents and Community Members 1,072 830 242

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Quality of Education

The majority of parents (83%), community members (65%) and staff members (89%) rate the quality of education provided by the school district with a letter grade rating of A, B or C.

A B C D F Don't Know0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

15%

41%33%

6%1% 3%

12%

36% 35%

11%4% 2%

6%

29% 30%26%

4% 5%

Staff (n=948) Parents (n=995) Community Members (n=77)

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Themes from Open-Ended Questions

To get a better grade next year, participants said . . .

Parent/Community Member Comments

• Increase communication with parents about student performance and what is being taught in the classroom (Parent Vue, parent-teacher conferences) as well as information from the School Board and Central Office.

• Work to ensure that teachers are receiving support and training to be more engaged and effective in the classroom.

• Place more attention on teaching and student learning and less emphasis on “teaching to the test.”

Staff Member Comments

• Provide support for teachers to have additional planning time and more time for instruction (fewer meetings and less paperwork as appropriate).

• Work to have a more balanced approach to teaching the curriculum and less focus on “teaching to the test.”

• Continue to develop effective strategies to meet student needs (special education, gifted education, ELL (English Language Learning)).

• Work to have smaller classroom sizes.

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Quality Schools Value

As a resident and taxpayer in this community, how strongly do you agree with the following statements?

A school district with strong schools is important to me.

Increased funding to ensure quality education is important to me.

I understand that property values depend on the reputation of our schools.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

95%

90%

80%

93%

87%

75%

92%

74%

74%

Community Members (n=76) Parents (n=987) Staff (n=931)

Percent "Strongly Agree" or "Agree"

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Role of School Board

How familiar are you with the role and responsibilities of the School Board?

Staff (n=935)

Parents (n=992)

Community Members (n=76)

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

38%

21%

37%

52%

53%

54%

11%

26%

9%

Very Familiar Somewhat Familiar Not Familiar

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Roles of Superintendent & Leadership Team

How familiar are you with the role and responsibilities of the Superintendent and his Leadership Team?

Staff (n=936)

Parents (n=990)


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

42%

24%

48%

50%

51%

43%

9%

25%

9%


© 2013 K12 Insight

9

Central Office Support

How familiar are you with the ways Central Office administrators support all the schools in our district?

Staff (n=937)

Parents (n=993)


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

44%

24%

43%

49%

53%

47%

7%

23%

11%


© 2013 K12 Insight

10

Central Office Contact

Within the past year, have you needed to speak with one or more of the following?

School Board Members

Superintendent or the Superintendent’s Office Staff

Central Office Department Administrator

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

10%

21%

42%

10%

18%

24%

17%

30%

47%


Percent "Yes"

© 2013 K12 Insight

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School Board Member Contact

When you have had something to discuss with a School Board member . . .

Note: These items were presented only to those who selected "Yes" to the question, "Within the past year, have you needed to speak with one or more School Board members?"

the School Board member(s) was/were available to talk to me.

the School Board member(s) was/were courteous and listened to my concerns.

the School Board member(s) responded to my concerns in a professional manner, whether or not he or she agreed with me.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

80%

81%

79%

67%

72%

67%

92%

85%

92%

Community Member (n=13) Parents (n=95) Staff (n=96)

Percent "Strongly Agree" or "Agree

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Superintendent or Office Staff Contact

When you have had an issue to discuss or an idea to share with the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s office staff . . .

Note: These items were presented only to those who selected "Yes" to the question, "Within the past year, have you needed to speak with the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s office staff?"

you easily found out who to contact within the Superintendent’s of-fice.

you made contact with the right Superintendent’s office member.

the Superintendent’s office member was polite and listened to you.

your ideas were considered and addressed in a professional manner.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

79%

83%

82%

72%

66%

73%

72%

57%

87%

83%

78%

83%



© 2013 K12 Insight

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Central Office Department Administrator Contact

When you have had an issue to discuss or an idea to share with a Central Office Department administrator . . .

Note: These items were presented only to those who selected "Yes" to the question, "Within the past year, have you needed to speak with a Central Office Department administrator?"

you easily found out who to contact within the Central Office.

you made contact with the right Central Office member.

the Central Office member was polite and listened to you.

your ideas were considered and addressed in a professional manner.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

84%

89%

84%

77%

73%

81%

79%

71%

81%

89%

83%

77%



© 2013 K12 Insight

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Awareness of District Decisions

This year, the school district made major decisions concerning education for all students. These decisions were:• Opening Centennial High School• Planning to remodel Las Cruces High School• Implementing an “Invitational Education” model that includes improvement of

school grounds, cleanliness of buildings and friendliness of staff.

Are you aware that these decisions were made?

Staff (n=908)

Parents (n=980)


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

87%

73%

81%

Percent "Yes"

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Awareness of District Decisions

With regard to these decisions . . .

The school district shared relevant facts with the community before making these decisions.

Community input was sought before making these decisions.

These decisions are good decisions in support of education.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

77%

72%

88%

67%

64%

85%

66%

55%

86%


Percent "Strongly Agree" or "Agree"

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Budget Constraints

How familiar are you with the school district's budget constraints?

Staff (n=930)

Parents (n=985)


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

29%

12%

33%

53%

49%

43%

17%

38%

24%


© 2013 K12 Insight

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Budget Awareness

Respondents were asked if they were aware that . . . • salaries and benefits account for 88.8% of the district’s operational budget.• public education received 51.6% of the state’s budget in 1987, while today it

receives 43%.• Las Cruces Public Schools was one of only a few districts in New Mexico that did

not implement a Reduction in Force (RIF) to balance its 2011-2012 budget.

Staff (n=923)

Parents (n=985)


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

67%

40%

61%

Percent "Yes"

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Funding Adequacy

The current funding level is adequate to meet this community's education needs.

Staff (n=933)

Parents (n=988)


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

15%

16%

29%

46%

40%

35%

29%

22%

19%

8%

17%

10%6%

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know

Note: Labels for percentages less than 5% are not shown.

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Community Relations

I am welcome to attend school activities.


Staff (n=930)

Parents (n=993)


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

37%

44%

46%

56%

48%

37% 7% 8%

Agree Strongly Agree DisagreeStrongly Disagree Don’t Know

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Community Relations

I am welcome to use the facilities (library, computers, gym, track) at a school near my home.


Staff (n=926)

Parents (n=992)


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

28%

15%

20%

36%

27%

30%

11%

17%

17%

5%

8%

9%

20%

33%

24%

Strongly Agree Agree DisagreeStrongly Disagree Don’t Know

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Community Relations

I can obtain information about services and activities at a school near my home.


Staff (n=919)

Parents (n=989)


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

31%

20%

24%

47%

43%

37%

8%

13%

17%

3%

5%

5%

11%

19%

17%

Strongly Agree Agree DisagreeStrongly Disagree Don’t Know

© 2013 K12 Insight

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School Operations

The school district does a good job of providing school bus service.

The school district does a good job of providing food services.

Schools are clean and in good condition.

The school year start and end dates are appropriate for this community.

The scheduled holidays are the right ones for this community.

The times that the school day begins and ends are appropriate for this community.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

77%

79%

73%

84%

90%

86%

62%

66%

75%

86%

89%

85%

68%

71%

68%

74%

82%

72%



© 2013 K12 Insight

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Themes to Open-Ended Questions

If respondents disagreed with any item concerning school district operations, they offered the following suggestions for improvement:


• Suggest a longer school calendar, including the possible transition to a year-long calendar• Concern over the quality and variety of food provided to students• Quality of bus service within the district needs to improve • District facilities appear to be rundown


• Consider adjusting the school calendar (to include year-round schooling, adjust school start time, change the start date of the school year)

• Explore offering a greater variety and higher quality food• Improve the cleanliness and overall maintenance of school facilities• Review quality of transportation and bus services

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Sources of Information: Staff Members

Television

Radio

Newspaper

School District Website

Friends/Family

Child

School District All-Call System

School Newsletter

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

17%

22%

41%

76%

36%

34%

20%

34%

15%

39%

45%

61%

84%

53%

51%

47%

56%

28%

Usefulness Frequency

Frequency percentages include "Usually" and "Always" responses.Usefulness percentages include "Useful" and "Very Useful" responses.

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Sources of Information: Parents

Television

Radio

Newspaper


Friends/Family

Child


School Newsletter

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

11%

16%

32%

63%

41%

59%

23%

30%

19%

30%

36%

50%

75%

55%

63%

45%

54%

30%



© 2013 K12 Insight

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Sources of Information: Community Members

Television

Radio

Newspaper


Friends/Family

Child


School Newsletter

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

14%

19%

51%

67%

35%

15%

3%

16%

13%

40%

39%

52%

74%

56%

29%

23%

38%

28%



© 2013 K12 Insight

27

Meeting and Event Attendance

Please indicate how many times you have attended each of the following events during the past year.

School Board Meetings

Parent Advisory (PAC) School Meetings

School Plays

School-Sponsored Art/Music Presentations

School-Sponsored Sporting Events

School Events (Back to School, Parent Conferences, Celebrations, Open House)

District Advisory Committee (DAC) Meetings

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

31%

39%

64%

79%

74%

95%

21%

21%

38%

58%

77%

68%

96%

13%

33%

18%

47%

61%

60%

63%

24%


Percent Once or More

© 2013 K12 Insight

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Themes to Open-Ended Questions

Respondents identified sources where they receive information about the school district other than those listed in the survey:


• Their students’ teachers • Emails from someone within the school district


• Staff meetings• Principal or other staff members• School website

© 2013 k12 insight central office climate survey results las cruces public schools march 3 - 28,...

Documents

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district climate survey

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