By HOLLY GASKILL
A recent survey found staff at Norwell Community Schools believed their increased dual-credit and CTE programs as the district’s biggest improvement, while legislative actions present the largest threat.
In a follow-up to January’s strategic planning session, Superintendent Mike Springer presented the school board with results from a staff survey of their opinions on the district’s growth, successes and threats. According to Springer, 100 staff members responded.
Second to legislation, NWCS staff ranked “negative social media posts” as threatening to the district. It was followed by the influence of illegal drugs, better programming in other districts, and better achievement results at other school districts.
However, “legislative actions changing the goal posts” took first by a high margin — 71% of those surveyed ranked legislation actions as the first or second largest threat.
Board member Chad Kline noted that that number might surprise many people who don’t work inside the school. “I’m not sure that the general public understands how much the legislative actions really affect education until you sit in this role, or you’re sitting in the education role,” he said. Multiple principals and assistant principals nodded in agreement in the audience.
Pertaining to this, Ossian Elementary School Principal Theresa Casto and Lancaster Elementary School Principal Ginger Butcher later advised the schools are reviewing reading curriculum that complies with the state’s newest guidelines, centered around what is commonly referred to as the “science of reading.”
Casto and Butcher announced plans to have staff review curriculum options and host a more focused group of options with families on March 13. The new curriculum will be implemented in the upcoming school year.
The survey also measured successes in areas previously identified as weaknesses or opportunities in a 2021-22 survey, with increased dual credit and CTE class offerings taking first.
Staff ranked the increased dual credit and CTE class offerings as the largest improvement, with an average 4.45 rating out of 5. Following were facility improvements (4.29), new branding and marketing assets (3.89), and progress on special education programming (3.83).
Among initiatives to improve the district in the last several years — including other items like increasing pay, pre-K programming, and withdrawal from the Adams Wells Special Services Cooperative — 65% found all endeavors successful.
Two items drew the most responses for unsuccessful initiatives — 16% considered withdrawal from the AWSSC unsuccessful, and 22% considered the branding guide unsuccessful.
Springer expressed positivity in the overall results and how the district has made intentional choices to meet needs. Specifically, he highlighted how dual credit and CTE classes increased from seven to 47, ongoing construction projects and facility improvements, and the implementation of the district’s cohesive branding guide.
holly@news-banner.com
