Principal presents climate and culture survey showing strengths on safety and belonging, notes challenges on bathroom access and grading feedback

Principal Edward Brandt told the Hunterdon Central Regional High School Board on July 20 that the district’s 2025–26 climate and culture survey produced useful baseline data and four broad themes the administration will use to guide near‑term and multi‑year work.

"We each of those entities provided a lot of input," Brandt said, describing how student, parent and staff focus groups and AI‑generated themes were combined. He said the administration altered the survey this year to a four‑point Likert scale and changed some prompts, which limits direct year‑to‑year comparisons but helps identify priorities.

Brandt said participation included students, staff and parents, and that the results broke into four priority areas: safety and building operations; teaching and learning; community and belonging; and staff support and growth. On safety and building operations he highlighted bathroom access during passing times and lunch and explained steps the school has already taken to open additional lavatories and publicize which facilities are available.

"We increased the number of bathrooms open from the time the kids get off the bus and before homeroom," Brandt said, describing an experiment in adjusting lunch‑duty locations and student communications that, he said, increased use of existing facilities.

Brandt also flagged two teaching‑and‑learning items parents and students raised: more consistent grading updates and clearer expectations from teachers. He said survey items on engagement and teacher communication performed well overall—about two‑thirds to three‑quarters of respondents rated those items in the top categories—but that updating grade reports and providing timely feedback remain priorities.

On belonging and wellness, Brandt described extracurriculars and wellness programs as strengths and said students asked the district to expand student ambassador programs, homecoming activities and alumni engagement. He also urged more explicit staff professional development on inclusive practices and compassion‑focused seminars.

Board members asked about methodology, use of pulse‑survey data and whether third‑party pulse surveys affected full survey response rates. Brandt said administration had access to pulse results and used them to make targeted changes—citing the lavatory example as an instance where a pulse item produced an operational correction.

The presentation materials are posted in the board’s online board docs along with the full survey charts and will inform updates to district and board goals for 2026–27.