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District explains Qualtrics anonymity for surveys; board discusses outside vendor for superintendent evaluations
Summary
District IT/administration staff explained how Qualtrics anonymized survey links, and board members discussed using the Utah School Boards Association (USBA) for the superintendent evaluation to add a transparency layer.
District administrator Marcy Hatch presented how the district uses Qualtrics for anonymous surveys and explained when responses can and cannot be traced.
Hatch demonstrated distribution options and said 99% of district surveys are sent via an anonymous link that “cannot be tracked, and it can't be used to identify respondents.” She explained that surveys requiring email addresses are sent only when a non-anonymous distribution is needed and that open text comments could allow inference of identity if respondents include identifying details.
Board members raised concerns raised by some staff and community members that they feared retribution when answering internal evaluations. Several board members suggested using the Utah School Boards Association as an outside administrator for superintendent and business-administrator evaluations to remove perceived in-district influence. A board member said USBA had previously offered a comprehensive evaluation model; district leaders said they would consider whether to contract USBA or continue using Qualtrics with improved process controls.
Why it matters: Staff and parent confidence in survey anonymity affects response rates and candor in performance evaluations; the board discussed whether outside administration could increase trust.
Quotes: “It cannot be tracked, and it can't be used to identify respondents,” Marcy Hatch said of the anonymous Qualtrics distribution option. A board member noted that USBA offers an external evaluation model that could add transparency.
Next steps: District leaders said they would explore options, including bringing USBA in again for evaluation administration, and will consider staggering surveys to improve response rates and reduce respondent fatigue.
Ending: The board asked district staff to assess options for evaluation administration and to refine distribution strategies to maximize anonymity, response rates and trust.
