District official: staff survey shows decline in managing student behavior and common out-of-pocket purchases
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Summary
A district presenter summarized staff survey results showing a fall in the measure for managing student behavior (from ~70% in 2019–20 to about 62% now), 84% district participation, and frequent teacher-funded classroom purchases; principals and staff proposed local fixes and ad hoc committees.
A district presenter told the board the most recent staff survey shows a steady decline in the district’s ability to manage student behavior, with the measure falling "from a 70% in 19-20 to now we're at a 62%." The presenter said district participation in the survey was 84% and identified Bremen, Muhlenberg South and the Renaissance Center as the sites with 100% participation.
The presenter described instructional supports tied to diagnostic results, including I‑Ready modeling lessons and professional learning at Central City and Raymond Elementary, and said more classroom modeling and observation opportunities are planned. "We did offer it for other schools," the presenter said, describing sessions in which a professional learning coach modeled math lessons and teachers reflected on those demonstrations.
Principals and staff reported that teachers often use personal funds for classroom items. The presenter said, referring to a survey question on out-of-pocket spending, that roughly three-quarters of respondents reported spending their own money; the packet shows the item as about 78% (response labeled "spent their own money"). The presenter described procurement friction — teachers sometimes buy low-cost items immediately rather than submitting purchase orders, which can delay reimbursement.
District leaders flagged staff shortages and an expected wave of retirements. A committee member noted the district is "anywhere from 25 to 35" retirees in the current and coming year, a factor participants said contributes to staffing pressure. The presenter and other participants described the district’s "grow your own" pathways and student-teaching cohorts as part of recruitment efforts.
Responding to the decline in the behavior measure, the presenter urged work on interventions within district control such as more consistent implementation of PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports). "All of our schools do portions of PBIS, but to say that they are done consistently and systematically ... I would say none of our schools do PBIS consistently," the presenter said, and recommended principals and teams continue targeted work; one example cited was a school that used instant survey results to create ad hoc committees and immediate action plans.
The presenter handed out a summary packet with detailed breakdowns of question‑level trends and said staff will provide copies of the pages showing historical figures and per-question changes for board members to review. No formal votes or motions were recorded on the survey during the session.
