Survey: 'Trust' Paramount in Search for New Superintendent

In the search for a new superintendent in Indepedent School District 191, it seems that the ability to rebuild "trust" will trump financial know-how. 

According to a recent report, almost half of those surveyed said that the most important finding a new superintendent who is "honest, trustworthy, and a person of integrity" is of utmost importance. Likewise, about 56 percent of those surveyed said that "lack of trust in the administration" was their primary concern.

The results are perhaps a hangover from a controversy that erupted in early March, after it was first reported that former HR Director Tania Chance had left the district with $254,814 severance payout. District officials would not answer questions about Chance's performance evaluations, nor get into the specific reasons for Chance's hasty departure, which came in the middle of a two-year contract. It was later revealed that Chance had filed a complaint with Minnesota Department of Human Rights which involved sitting Superintendent Randy Clegg in a greivance which still has not been fully brought to light.

The Minnesota Department of Administration's Information Policy Analysis Division later determined that the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District was in error when it redacted portions of the severance agreement. 

In September 2012, current Superintendent Randy Clegg announced that he would retire at the end of this school year. The announcement came on the heels of a mixed performanc review, which the Board was also tight-lipped about.

A survey by School Exec Connect, the search firm tasked with finding Clegg's replacement, showed lingering fallout from the incident. The firm reported that 508 people responded to the online survey. Of those who took the survey, teachers were the largest group, accounting for almost half of all the respondents (242, 47.5 percent). Parents were the second biggest demographic group. About 36.9 percent of those who took the survey have children in school at ISD 191 (188 respondents). Other groups included district support staff like food service workers, janitors, clerical workers (16.3 percent), community/business members (11 percent), and administrators (3.3 percent). Just three students took the survey.  

The respondents believed that the district was strong in many fundamental areas, but more than half of the respondents cited "lack of trust" in the administration as the district's weakest point.

Here is a breakdown of the results:

Greatest Educational Strengths of the School District:

• Dedicated and highly competent staff, 77.1 percent (377)
• Child centered schools, 28 percent (137)
• Strong instructional program, 25.4 percent (124)

Challenges for the School District:

• Lack of trust in administration, 56 percent (283)
• Closing achievement gaps among student groups, 30.1 percent (152)
• Understanding and supporting diversity in the District, 26.1 percent (132)
• Fiscal challenges, 25.5 percent (129)
• Keeping up with technology, 25.3 percent (128)

Top three goals for district:

• Maintain small class sizes and personalized instruction, 60.4 percent (307)
• Build trust within the District and with the community 53.3 percent (272)
• Close achievement gaps for some student groups 33.5 percent (170)

The search firm also held focus groups with district department heads, principals, students, city leaders, teachers, district workers, seniors and parents. Individual interviews were conducted with all seven members of the Board of Education, current Superintendent Randy Clegg and the president of the teacher's union, Bob Nystrom.

The focus groups showed considerable differences between the various parties in the district, though all mentioned "trust," improving morale or rebuilding the Burnsville brand.

Here is what some specific groups said: 

...The Board

Trust was mentioned, but usually fell further down the list.

Three most important goals for the district:

• Implementation of the strategic plan
• Improve communications
• Dealing with our school boundary issue (over-crowding in some schools and economic balance)

The district’s three greatest strengths:

• Strong leadership in all employee groups, administration, and school board
• Good Burnsville Education Association (BEA)leadership
• Strong principals

The district’s three greatest challenges:

• Competition with neighboring districts, charter schools and private schools
• Lack of State support
• District leadership issues

Three most important characteristics of new Superintendent:

• Someone who motivates others
• Someone who sets high standards
• Someone who understands the need to keep Board members informed on key issues 

...District Department Heads

Three most important goals for the district:

• Rebuilding our reputation
• Improve staff morale (especially the teachers)
• Establish clear communication regarding our vision

The district’s three greatest strengths:

• Excellent educators
• “Top-notch” support personnel
• We were 7 individual campuses/competitive and now more focused in common direction together

The district’s three greatest challenges:

• Feeling overwhelmed
• A lack of trust
• Lack of staff empowerment

Three most important characteristics of new Superintendent:

• Student centered
• Visible
• Approachable

...Teachers

Three most important goals for the district:

• District needs a clear and concise plan of what they want to do, smaller goals
• Restructure Special ed so there is a reasonable work load
• Need to keep students here and get others to return

The district’s three greatest strengths:

• Experienced teachers who are motivated
• All day every day kindergarten programs
• Employees who are valuable in their role and committed to the District and willing to work hard

The district’s three greatest challenges:

• We need to know the strengths of each new culture so that we can use these to advance the kids
• About 1 of 2 minority students are graduating, need to change this for the benefit of the kids and community
• Teachers feel that what they say doesn’t have an impact

Three most important characteristics of new Superintendent:

• Communicate effectively
• Be visible in buildings, so we can talk, work cooperatively
• Be able to make tough decisions/courageous decisions

...Students

Three most important goals for the district:

• Move the high school forward, technology, curriculum and programs
• Deal with the attendance and discipline issues
• Need to have a budget to fix things in the schools

The district’s three greatest strengths:

• Great teachers and staff that help us to learn
• Events for us lots of school spirit
• Financial strength

The district’s three greatest challenges:

• Teachers who seem tired of teaching and are not teaching
• Want to have a school with students who want to be here
• Need staff who are technology proficient

Three most important characteristics of new Superintendent:

• Make a connection to students
• Asks how we are doing, understands what we want
• Visits the schools, events and meet with students

Read the report in its entirety: Click here.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter| Blog for us