SAI Report Survey Question Archive 

December 2011 Results

Does your district have an employee gift policy that goes beyond Iowa’s Ethics and Gift Law?

92% - No 8% - Yes

November 2011 Results

What books are you using this year for book studies with your administrative team, teachers, school board?

Responses are presented here.

October 2011 Results

What do you see as the most positive aspect of the education blueprint? The most concerning aspect? Why?

Responses are posted in the SAI knowledge area

September 2011 Results

What video or strategy did you use with your staff to start the year off?

Member ideas are shared on this page.

May 2011 Results

What does your school/district do to encourage summer learning?

Offer summer credit recovery for grades 7-12, summer enrichment for grades 5-12; more ideas at http://bit.ly/mVNhtz

April 2011 Results

Is your school or district moving toward reducing or eliminating the use of printed textbooks?

50% Yes    50% No 

March 2011 Results

How does your school/district solicit feedback from students to inform learning and student outcomes?   

Respondents indicated surveys and involving students in walkthroughs. One district noted it generates weekly updates from the JMC/student management system and asks students to stop by the office to discuss. 

February 2011 Results

If your district has vacancies for 2011-12, what are your most pressing hiring concerns?

Respondents shared that it’s hard-to-fill positions, such as ELL, Industrial Tech and High School Math that cause them concern. Learn more about hiring practices.

January 2011 Results

What tips help you manage your time? A suggested tool is available at http://bit.ly/ec14Iv

December 2010 Results

How are you using technology to accomplish administrative/managerial tasks? 
Examples are available at http://bit.ly/f7yfev 

November 2010 Results

Does your building or district have a Facebook page?

Yes 48% No 52%

Facebook examples and comments are available at http://bit.ly/hvGMnt

October 2010 Results

Does your school or district offer student-led parent-teacher conferences? In what grades?

Yes 47.1%       No  52.9%

For what grades?

  • elementary - 33.3%
  • middle school - 67.7%
  • high school - 25%

One district indicated grades 5 and 6 only, another has student-led one semester only.

September 2010 Results

Does your district have social media policies (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) for students? Staff?

Yes    0%   No  100%

May 2010 Results

Are you providing technology training for teachers in your district? 

Yes 80% No 20% 

For a report which includes data on teachers’ preparation to use technology for instruction and technology-related professional development activities, go to http://bit.ly/9DhxYn

April 2010 Results

Does your district have formal homework policies? 

Yes 25% No 75% 

Have you recently or will you soon review with staff the type and amount of homework given?

Yes 75% No 25% 

March 2010 Results 

What methods do you use to collaborate with other school leaders?

Respondents offered this broad array

Access the 2009 MetLife Survey of the American Teacher results and ideas on what good collaboration looks like at www.metlife.com/teachersurvey.

February 2010

Are you currently examining your grading practices?

Of the respondents indicating they are examining grading, they shared that:

  • We are beginning a study group on formative assessment which will include discussion on grading practices.
  • We are considering eliminating grades all together.
  • Our professional development revolves around Richard Stiggins’ work on Formative Assessment and Grading.
  • We continually reevaluate homework and grades.
  • We are looking at more standards-based report cards. We’re waiting for the ICC training to be completed by the state, and the push for national standards to play out.
  • Semester tests are read for appropriate questions, for district expectations.
  • [We’re looking at] how zeros affect a student’s grade.
  • We have had several guided discussions at [our] High School. 

January 2010

How do you collect feedback from students regarding school and what it has to offer?

Respondents indicated that they used a survey to collect student input.

Relatedly, view results of the Gallup Poll on Student Engagement

December 2009 

Have you added technology this school year to change current practice? If so, what?
  • 1:1 laptop initiative for grades 5-12.
  • We are now a 1:1 laptop school. It has completely changed the environment of the school. Students are truly engaged in their learning. They have been empowered to create, collaborate and communicate as citizens of the 21st century.
  • We added projectors to each classroom, Elmos at each grade level, and upgraded our elementary lab for new software requirements.
  • wikis for teacher and administrative team use
  • 40 laptops, 5 smartboards
  • Google Reader, blogging
  • Google documents to facilitate many teams

November 2009

What cost-saving measures are being implemented by your district?

  • Shut down all facilities during Christmas break; reduction of office staff and custodian hours; not filling paraeducator positions. 
  • Repair & maintenance, vehicle replacement, personnel, travel, in-service. 
  • Using cash reserves to offset the reductions in state aid. Appropriate utilization of human resources is the key to fiscal viability in good and bad economic times. 
  • Eliminated study hall monitor, trimmed custodial staff. 

October 2009

Are teachers in your district using the Web to expand their professional development?
 
Seven of the 10 individuals responding to this question answered yes. The examples of what’s being used included: GoogleSites, simplek12.com (online PD), online college courses, Nettrekker, Google Docs and Enchanted Learning.

September 2009

Have you had a conversation with community business leader(s) about the skills they’re looking for in their new hires?
 
  - yes 60% 
  - no 40%

May 2009    

What reform initiatives might stimulus funds help implement in your district? 

  • professional development            75%
  • technology                                55% 
  • academic coaches                      15%
  • other                                       15%
    - endorsements in special education    
    - school counseling programs 
  • school administration manager     5% 

Read more about how school’s across the nation are spending ARRA monies.   

An ongoing challenge for schools is finding time to schedule teacher learning. How is your district approaching professional development for next year? 

  • early outs on a regular basis 64.3%
  • full Professional Development days during the school year 64.3%
  • common planning periods for colleagues with similar assignments 50%
  • late starts on a regular basis 14.3%

Read more about finding time for professional development at snipurl.com/h3jbp

March 2009  

As you begin implementation of the Iowa Core Curriculum, what is your current area of focus? 

  • working with a leadership team to develop the implementation plan 33.3%

  • creating awareness and understanding among faculty 14.3%

  • preparing for and managing the change process 9.5%

  • matching essential concepts and skills with district standards 0%

  • all of the above 42.9% 

February 2009

What methods do you use to assess school climate?

  • Student, staff and family surveys - 71.4%
  • Observational methods - 57.1%
  • Participatory action research - 21.4%
  • Focus group interviews - 7.1%
  • Study circles - 7.1%
  • Town hall discussions - 7.1% 

January 2009

What are your professional resolutions for the new year? 

No data were available for the survey. Response to a similar NASSP poll is as follows

What’s your biggest resolution for the new school year?

63% To spend more time observing teachers 

10% To make more time for my own professional growth

21% To spend more time with beginning teachers

  4% To attend more school activities

  3% Other    

 December 2008 

Should after school programs be

- mostly academic,

- mostly recreational, or

- a mix of academics and recreation?

100 percent of the respondents indicated programs should be a mix of academics and recreation.     

November 2008

Would your district consider a four-day school week? If so, what implications do you foresee?

 Four respondents indicated they would consider it. Among the factors to think about were

- Cutting expenditures, but with a concern for academic impact.

- Childcare issues for parents. 

- Initial morale boost for staff that would even out in time.

- Increased Professional Development opportunities for teachers, increased collaboration within the school building and districtwide, increased collaboration with teachers from other districts.

- Scheduling activities, cooperation with other schools, contractual issues, and education the community.  

October 2008

Have you had to talk with a staff member or candidate about inappropriate content in his/her online profile? (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, etc.)

Only one member reported having to address a situation with a staff person.

However, as these profiles continue to be prevalent, it is not unexpected that complaints from parents or students could arise regarding staff members’ page content.   

Read more about how using questionable judgment on these sites can create problems  

September 2008  

What, if anything, is your district doing to minimize the impact of rising fuel and energy costs for '08-'09?

The measures respondents indicated they were taking include

  • Eliminating or consolidating bus routes 
  • Changing fuel purchasing practices 
  • Cutting back on student field trips 
  • Limiting staff business travel 
  • Cutting back on heating and air conditioning use/Implementing other energy conservation measures 
  • Delaying non-essential facility upgrades and repairs 
  • Eliminating/modifying instructional, support, or administrative personnel positions 
  • Eliminating/modifying extracurricular or athletic offerings 

Review nationwide responses to AASA’s Fuel and Energy Survey 

May 2008

What current book would you recommend to colleagues? 

  Colleagues’ responses and SAI staff suggestions

April 2008

How much time per week do you devote to your own professional development?

  • 10 or more hours - 9.1%  
  • 7-9 hours - 0%
  • 4-6 hours - 0%
  • 1-3 hours - 63.6%
  • Less than 1 hour - 27.3%

March 2008

Do you include a performance assessment (e.g. teaching a lesson or providing a writing sample) in your interview process for new teachers?  

  • 79 percent said no
  • 21 percent said yes

February 2008

With your district’s new anti-bullying/anti-harassment policy in place, have you experienced a change in the number of incidents reported?     

  • Yes, it has increased significantly - 11.1%
  • Yes, it has increased slightly - 18.5%
  • It's about the same - 63%
  • No, it has decreased slightly - 3.7%
  • No, it has decreased significantly - 3.7%

January 2008

Does your district use security cameras? (check all that apply)   

  • Yes, outside the building - 37.1%
  • Yes, inside the building - 40%
  • Yes, on buses - 42.9%
  • No - 48.6%

December 2007

Should the ESEA reauthorization give more power to states and local authorities?

  • 81.5% - yes
  • 18.5% - no

November 2007

Do you have (or are you planning to create) an academic hall of fame?

  • 22.2% - yes
  • 77.8% - no

October 2007

Are you satisfied with your district’s current start date?

  • Yes, we've arrived at a date that works for our community - 63.4%
  • No, we'd prefer to start the school year earlier - 22%
  • No, we'd prefer to start the school year later - 14.6%

September 2007

Does your school have an operating foundation?

  • Yes - 60%
  • No - 40%

May 2007

How many hours per week do you estimate that you spend on instructional leadership?

  • 0-5 - 0%
  • 6-10 - 50%
  • 11-15 - 25%
  • 16-20 - 16.7%
  • 21-25 - 0%
  • More than 26 hours per week - 8.3%

April 2007

Will you have to RIF any positions this year?

  • Four districts answered yes.

March 2007

Does facility availability limit preschool opportunities in your district?

  • Yes - 60%
  • No - 40%