DUBOIS – Calling it a serious “morale crisis,” teachers in the DuBois Area School District said a survey of educators indicates the need for discussions on how to improve the morale of school employees.
The survey, which was conducted by the DuBois Area Education Association, asked members their attitudes about actions and policies of the school board and the administration. The DAEA represents 321 teachers in the district.
“Based on what has occurred in our district in the past few years, we wanted to give our members an opportunity to express their views on their attitudes and morale,” said DAEA President Michael Weber. “The results of the survey clearly show that morale is very low. Teachers really feel that actions by the school board and some administrators clearly demonstrate disrespect for the school employees. They do not believe that they are treated as professionals and that there is a high degree of micro-managing in the district.”
The results of the survey indicated problems such as “inconsistent enforcement of the discipline code” which results in the lack of discipline. Also sited was an over emphasis on testing and some educators were concerned with the inadequate supply of textbooks and workbooks.
“One theme that was clear from the survey results is that the teachers believe the school board sets a tone for the community. They believe that because the school board’s actions and policies are often critical of employees, it sets a negative perception for the entire school system,” Weber said. “The recent strike by the district’s support staff is another example of how bad things have become for employees.”
Weber added, “In spite of the morale problems, our teachers are committed to the job of providing every child with the best possible education. All buildings have achieved ‘Annual Yearly Progress’ under the No Child Left Behind law and we have a designated ‘Blue Ribbon School’ and the middle school has been selected as ‘A School to Watch’.”
Weber said the teachers and other school employees are hoping to work to improve relationships with the school board by offering dates for labor management meetings.
“One of the ways that school employees can make their concerns known is at the polls on primary election day on May 15,” Weber said. “We are committed to making sure that we can provide the best quality education to our children, and that can only happen if our employees feel respected for the jobs they do.”
GantDaily Editor’s Note: This information was received by GantDaily on Friday evening.