They can’t get no satisfaction with the Bluewater District School Board.
A recent survey done for the school board shows 79 per cent of parents say Bluewater Schools provide a supportive learning environment and 66 per cent of parents and staff are satisfied with the overall school experience students get.
The majority also believe the schools are good at fostering a respectful environment and most agree that the Bluewater Board is a good place for students to learn.
However only 45 per cent of the community members surveyed and 22 per cent of parents are satisfied with the leadership trustees provide — and the numbers are similar when it comes to how the board communicates.
Board Chair Jennifer Yenssen says they’re addressing the communication issue.
The board is going to start webcasting their meetings, as well as airing them on local cable in the new year.
Satisfaction is low with board administration too.
Only 33 per cent of the community members, 21 per cent of staff, and 16 per cent of parents are satisfied with the leadership they provide.
37 per cent of the community members and 47 per cent of parents are neutral on the question.
Board administrators are implementing the recommendations from advisor Geoff Williams on how to improve transparency.
Director of Education Mary Anne Alton says they’ve had an in-depth look at practices and it’s up to the leadership to take action that supports student learning.
Bluewater Citizens for Education spokesperson Leisa McDougall says the only way to move forward is to learn from mistakes, and not simply conducting a survey that does not include students or parents who have already taken their children out of the system.
She hopes the findings of the survey will help the board move ahead with what needs to be done.
Sattler recommends future surveys include those parents, along with students.
Yenssen says the survey results mirror the findings from public forums held during May and June.
The survey was conducted by telephone, online, and through a parent focus group and staff interviews.