By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
No one can see the future, but maybe they can shape it. That was the goal of Monday's special USD 428 Board of Education Meeting. Kansas Association of School Board Field Specialist Sue Givens and the board reviewed results from a recent survey issued by the district. The goal, Givens said, was to use that information to shape the district in the future.
"What's it look like?" she asked. "What do you see people doing? What's the general mood? What does it look like in terms of resources and processes? How have those changed? What's different from today? What do you really want to change about your district in the next five years as you look at the big picture?"
With nearly half of the 500-plus respondents being district staff, returns from the survey indicate a strong desire to retain and compensate staff. Board President Jacquie Disque said making that staff happy is vital for the district to serve its purpose of teaching kids.
"If you don't have a staff that's happy, you're not going to get student success," she said. "I don't care how hard you try, I don't how many assessments you do, I don't care how many people are in your class, if you don't have staff that is satisfied, it's not going to be successful."
Givens dared the board to dream of things the district should start doing, stop doing and continue doing. Each member then cast several votes to rank the importance of each of the items. Givens will continue working with district administration to develop an action plan to make some of those changes over the next several months.
The board agreed improving retention, competition, and longevity benefits for staff were crucial, and also agreed updating facilities with more secure front doors and storm shelters should be a priority. Superintendent Khris Thexton suggested creating a new-teacher academy to make becoming a teacher easier for local students. The board also liked the idea of a 2-week pay cycle, and more community involvement for all schools.
Most of the board agreed that better policies are needed regarding cell phones in classrooms. Several members also voted to stop measuring student success by assessment scores, and to stop the perception that college is the best choice for all students.
The board agreed several programs need to continue, from pre-kindergarten programming to incentives to retain staff. Thexton said the district should continue being fiscally responsible, and many on the board agreed the collaboration with the city and Rec Center has been mutually beneficial.