Norman Public Schools presents strategic-plan survey; teachers' union raises concerns about state teacher-empowerment program

Norman Public Schools officials on Tuesday presented results of the district's third annual strategic-plan survey and discussed next steps for school-level review, while a teachers' union leader used public comment to urge the board to reject a state teacher-empowerment program as written.

Holly McKinney, a district staff member who presented the survey findings to the Norman Board of Education, told the board that survey participation rose substantially and that results across the district's six strategic areas remained “statistically strong and consistent” year over year. "We had about 6,000 people — the adults — that took the survey," McKinney said, and she noted a roughly 37% increase in adult participation compared with the prior year.

The survey covers teaching and learning; safety and security; culture and belonging; maximize the budget; recruit and retain; and improve communication. McKinney summarized headline results: high-80s scores in many teaching-and-learning measures, mid-80s on culture and belonging, and strong perceptions of safety and security. Staff reported especially high school-level safety perceptions (about 95% of staff agreed they feel safer in schools), and parents and community respondents also reported strong scores (about 88%). Responses to a new question about school resource officers (SROs) skewed positive in the aggregate, though McKinney said open-ended answers included mixed views: some respondents praised SROs for improving safety while others raised concerns about potential negative impacts on marginalized students; a few secondary students mentioned the idea of metal detectors.

On recruitment and retention, staff responses were notably positive: McKinney said staff rated district recruiting and retention alignment with the mission and opportunities for educator growth in the high-90s. However, on the question of whether the district provides public recognition for educators who remain in the classroom, results diverged: 89% of staff felt recognition was provided, while combined parents and community responses were 65% on that item. McKinney said that gap suggests an opportunity to make teacher recognition more visible to families and the public.

McKinney also reported that 77% of staff who responded said they come from diverse backgrounds or have diverse experiences; separately, parents/community and students reported that they perceive staff as representing student backgrounds (about 87% of parents/community, 94% of high school students and 92% of middle school students, according to McKinney).

Adrienne Hall, president of the Professional Educators of Norman, used the public-comment period to urge caution about the Oklahoma teacher-empowerment program and its fit in Norman. "This is one option that would not support all of our certified staff," Hall said, asking the board to consider whether the statewide program would undermine local collaboration and uniformity in teacher leadership and evaluation opportunities.

McKinney said principals will receive school-by-school data the day after the meeting and will present those results to staff and families. The district also announced a series of three community listening sessions this fall; the first is scheduled for Sept. 23 and will focus on maximizing the budget and recruiting and retaining staff.

Board members asked district staff to dig deeper into some results — particularly the small drop among high-school respondents on one culture/voice question — and McKinney said the district will review school-level trends and convene student focus groups to investigate.

The board received the presentation as an informational item; no board action was required or taken on the survey itself.