Superintendent: ‘We have to work hard to re-establish trust that certainly has been shaken by local decisions’
An internal survey of the perceptions of central office staff by employees working in Fayette County schools showed that 70 percent of school employees believe they are treated with respect while only 53 percent said central office is trusted by school-based staff.
The Central Office Perception Survey analysis was recently conducted by Washington, D.C.-based Hanover Research Company and dealt with perceptions of and satisfaction with the support, services, and resources provided by the district’s central office in Fayetteville.
The survey included responses from 1,321 school-based employees, of which 55 percent have been with the school system for 11 or more years.
The report’s key findings noted that, overall, two-thirds of responding employees were satisfied with central office staff. Key findings noted that 70 percent of respondents reported that central office staff treat school staff with respect while 58 percent said central office staff acknowledge the successes of school staff.
Asked why those figures are not higher, Barrow said, “As superintendent, I fully understand the importance of positive professional relationships, which was the reason for doing the survey in the first place. There is no verifiable way to know why a staff member scored a certain way on the survey, but we have to work hard to re-establish trust that certainly has been shaken by local decisions such as school closures, furlough days and cuts in salary. State mandates, which are sometimes perceived as coming from the county office, may play a part as well; for example, recent state changes in teacher evaluation systems, curriculum standards and standardized testing. I am fully confident we can, and will, continue to move the needle in the right direction.”
In terms of overall satisfaction with central office staff, 6 percent of respondents were extremely satisfied, 34 percent were very satisfied, 25 percent somewhat satisfied, 13 percent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 13 percent were somewhat dissatisfied, 6 percent were very dissatisfied and 3 percent were extremely dissatisfied.
A further breakdown of the survey centered on specific topic areas and how central office staff are viewed within those areas.
While the key findings noted that 71 percent of respondents reported they were treated with respect by central office staff, the actual numbers showed 23 percent strongly agreed, 47 percent agreed, 15 percent neither agreed nor disagreed, 10 percent disagreed and 4 percent strongly disagreed.
Asked if central office staff is trusted by school staff, 13 percent strongly agreed, 40 percent agreed, 21 percent were neutral, 19 percent disagreed and 8 percent strongly disagreed.
Asked if central office staff involve school staff in district-level decision-making, 8 percent strongly agreed, 28 percent agreed, 23 percent were neutral, 27 percent disagreed and 14 percent strongly disagreed.
Another topic dealt with central office staff allocating technological resources effectively. Responses showed that 11 percent strongly agreed, 40 percent agreed, 20 percent were neutral, 21 percent disagreed and 8 percent strongly disagreed.
In allocating financial resources effectively, 8 percent strongly agreed, 32 percent agreed, 28 percent were neutral, 21 percent disagreed and 11 percent strongly disagreed.
There were several questions relating to the quality of communications by central office staff. One of those dealt with setting realistic deadlines for information requests from school staff. Twelve percent of respondents strongly agreed, while 51 percent agreed, 20 percent were neutral, 12 percent disagreed and 5 percent strongly disagreed.
Another topic dealt with central office staff performing duties at the county office that can be performed there before relegating to school staff. Respondents indicated that 12 percent strongly agree, 41 percent agreed, 28 percent were neutral, 11 percent disagreed and 8 percent strongly disagreed.
In terms of those responding to the survey, 68 percent were teachers, 20 percent were classified staff such as parapros, secretaries or custodians, 8 percent were other school staff such as counselors and media specialists and 5 percent were school administrators.
Broken down in terms of length of employment, 7 percent of respondents have less than a year with the school system, 18 percent had 1-5 years, 20 percent had 6-10 years, 40 percent had 11-20 years and 15 percent have been with the school system more than 20 years.
Barrow in a letter to employees said the survey would help central office staff determine their effectiveness and work to develop ways to better serve schools and, thus, impact student achievement.
Barrow said the survey results were disseminated to school system employees last week.
