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Mineola board reviews annual climate survey; students report stronger executive‑function skills, concerns remain on screen time and grading consistency
Summary
District officials presented results of the annual school‑quality survey showing high student participation and gains in social‑emotional and executive‑function measures, while parents and staff flagged issues including screen time, grading consistency and mixed perceptions of bullying.
The Mineola Union Free School District Board of Education on Dec. 4 heard results of the district’s annual school quality (climate) survey, which district presenters said will inform next‑year goals and classroom practices.
Dr. Mannion and Deputy Superintendent Catherine Fishman summarized responses collected from parents, staff and students. "Participation rates were about 15% for parents, 37% of our teachers, and 68% of our students," Fishman said, adding that student responses show increased self‑reported executive‑function skills compared with prior years. "Eighty‑two percent say they can complete all schoolwork," Fishman said.
The presentation highlighted programmatic responses to the findings: expanded pathway courses, Northwell wellness push‑ins to address substance abuse and social‑emotional topics, and planned community gatherings on vaping. Presenters said the results will be used in building‑level PLCs and student government to identify targeted interventions.
Board members asked for more disaggregated reporting. Trustee Patrick Tolte suggested comparing results with and without seniors to check for skew; Fishman said that can be done. Trustees also pressed for clarity about low parent response rates and whether some subgroup sample sizes are too small to draw firm conclusions; presenters acknowledged that for several items the sample was limited and recommended caution in interpretation.
The presentation named areas for follow‑up: screen time (half of respondents reported screen time as appropriate while the other half did not), grading consistency at the high school, and discrepancies in perceptions of bullying between teachers and parents/students. Fishman said Dignity for All Students Act procedures govern bullying investigations and that each building has a designated Dignity Act coordinator.
The board did not take formal action on the survey; presenters and trustees agreed to use the data in existing committees, PLCs and student forums and to return with more disaggregated analyses as requested.
The board remains scheduled to reconvene Dec. 18.
