Norwalk Public Schools Parent and Staff Surveys

1. Norwalk Public SchoolsParent and Staff Surveys November 1, 2011

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

3. 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

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

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

6. Response Rate • 90.8% of the respondents were white • 1189 staff members completed the survey - 80% • 1050 parents responded • Rates varied by schools • About 20%

7. 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

8. Parent Survey

9. Staff Survey

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

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

16. 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

17. Transportation • Most parents felt that the bus drivers maintain order • Parents felt that the bus drivers drive safely

18. PTO • More than half the parents completing the survey volunteer for the PTO

19. 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 surveys will be developed in 2011-12 • We will try to reach out to the whole community for increased participation