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Board splits on releasing past staff survey; approves new independent anonymous survey
Summary
After debate about a 2023 employee survey and recent legal precedent, the board declined an immediate motion to obtain and publish the prior survey results but approved a separate resolution to contract for a new independent, anonymous employee survey with safeguards and a target summer timeline.
Board members debated competing proposals on May 5 over the district—s past and future employee surveys. A motion to direct legal counsel to obtain and release the previously completed (Fall 2023) employee survey — including aggregated reports with personally identifiable information redacted — was introduced and extensively debated, with concern raised about alleged tampering and whether prior handling justified immediate release. The roll-call exchanges produced split responses and the motion did not carry.
Separately, the board approved a resolution authorizing the board president, vice president and administration to engage an independent professional firm (in coordination with GMLEA and non‑certified staff representatives) to conduct a new anonymous employee survey. The approved resolution requires safeguards to preserve anonymity, prevent duplicate responses and protect against retaliation; target dates in the motion call for agreement by June 17, 2026 and survey administration in or around July 2026.
Advocates for release of the 2023 document cited a recent court decision they said supports public release of publicly funded survey results. Opponents warned of potential legal costs and urged a careful review of whether the records constitute public records and whether the district faced litigation risk. Proponents of the new anonymous survey emphasized restoring staff voice and rebuilding trust; a district representative said prior vendor costs were in the low thousands and that an independent survey vendor could advise on best practices for anonymity and aggregation.
The board did not take additional immediate legal action to force release of the 2023 survey; the approved resolution moves forward with a new, independent survey process designed to produce aggregated results for the board while protecting employee anonymity.
