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Survey shows employee satisfaction, direction in Palmer schools

Date: 6/21/2023

PALMER — Employee satisfaction, disciplinary strategies and the district’s direction were the focus of a recent survey conducted by Ribas Associates and Publications of Norwood.

William H. Lipini, a senior consultant for Ribas, detailed the survey results during the School Committee’s June 14 meeting. The survey, which saw participation from 165 employees from Palmer High School and Old Mill Pond School, resulted in “fairly honest responses,” according to Lipini.

The survey asked whether employees felt valued at Palmer School. Responses varied: 50.9% agreed, 29.1% remained neutral, 14.5% strongly agreed and the rest disagreed.

Comments reflected this divide, with one employee stating, “Administration has been supportive this year and trying to boost morale,” while another mentioned, “I don’t always feel valued within the district, honestly, with so much staff turnover.”

The participant pool was diverse, with 48% classroom workers, 22.2% paraprofessionals, 11.1% others, 9.7% licensed specialists, and the remainder in administrative roles. Fifteen respondents, however, opted not to answer the question.

Lipini pointed out a noticeable number of neutral responses, suggesting these could be due to the irrelevance of specific questions or a reluctance to share opinions based on past experiences. He recommended eliminating the neutral response in future surveys.

When asked about feeling supported by the School Committee, responses were mixed: 52.1% neutral, 26.1% agreed, 10.9% disagreed, 7.3% strongly agreed, with the remaining strongly disagreed.

Some responses reflected a perception that the School Committee was more attuned to the needs of students and parents rather than those of the staff. One respondent noted, “Fear of negative consequences was a major issue in the past that prevented people from speaking up about any issues, great or small.”

Overall, administrative support received positive feedback, with 46% feeling supported and 26.5% strongly agreeing. However, Lipini voiced concerns about a large number of neutral responses to questions typically garnering more definitive opinions.

About 57% of the staff felt their voices were being heard and valued. Yet, later survey questions revealed divergent employee concerns, especially about discipline.

One respondent noted, “The same kids do the same things over and over, and it seems like there are no consequences for them.” while another said, “There does not appear to be consequences for inappropriate behavior.”