NASHUA – A survey of the workplace climate within the Nashua School District released by the University of New Hampshire this week found that less than half of the staff who responded believe they can express their views openly with colleagues without fear of retribution.

The survey, conducted by the UNH Survey Center between May 27 and June 10, included responses from more than half of faculty and staff in the district. The 1,022 participants represented a 63 percent response rate.

“It is a much-needed start to identify the needs of the school system so we can move forward,” said Nashua Teachers Union President Bob Sherman, in a Tuesday phone interview.

Teachers’ Union Vice President Adam Marcoux said the survey included some positive remarks, but there were concerns that staff feared retribution from management.

Less than half of survey participants – 48 percent – said they can express their views openly with colleagues without fear of retribution.

“I look forward to addressing those concerns and moving forward, but also recognizing our successes,” Marcoux said at the Board of Education meeting on June 27.

Key findings of the survey show the majority of staff “enjoy working at their building and feel there is a positive, respectful and supportive environment.”

Response rates varied between district buildings, from a 94 response rate by Pennichuck Middle School staff to a low of 21 percent from those at Sunset Heights Elementary School.

At 58 percent, the majority of district staff said they work in a “positive, respectful and supportive environment” and 53 percent said their school promotes “an honest and open dialogue” when making important decisions.

However, respondents were split on the subject of morale, with 40 percent reporting that staff morale is high and 41 percent disagreeing.

The highest morale was reported at Elm Street Middle School, with 86 percent, and Sunset Heights, with 85 percent. The numbers were lowest among Nashua High School North staff at 11 percent, 12 percent of staff at Mount Pleasant, 14 percent of staff at the Dr. Crisp school and 18 percent at Ledge Street.

Staff responses on school leadership also varied, with 91 percent of Bicentennial, 89 percent of Elm Street, 88 percent of Sunset Heights and 85 percent of Main Dunstable staff agreeing that their school administration gives effective leadership that promotes a positive climate.

The least likely to agree were the staff at Mount Pleasant, with 22 percent reporting a positive climate, 23 percent at Ledge Street, 26 percent at Dr. Crisp and 28 percent at Nashua High North.

At 24 percent, a minority of staff members agreed that the district administration understands the challenges they face, while 50 percent disagreed.

The teachers union requested additional information on the survey, hoping to specifically break down data between how each group of participants responded, Sherman said.

“We want to see whether we can have a breakout between the various groups: teachers, para(educators), and other staff members, and data further broken down by school,” Sherman said. “On the union side, we have begun looking at it and putting together our own figures and analysis.”

About 3 in 4 staff members said they found their workplaces to be safe, and a majority found them to be clean, but only one-third said their buildings have sufficient heating and ventilation capability to provide a comfortable learning environment.

“When you go to the ratings, there are some schools that seem to be very favorable and open and other schools where that doesn’t seem to be the case,” Sherman said.

Nashua board member George Farrington said the UNH survey did not pose questions about the board and asked that those types of questions be considered for future surveys.

Board President Sandra Ziehm agreed, saying the things they “really need to hear are the criticisms.”

Said Farrington, “There is some good information there, and I think there is information we can use to make this district better.”

The data is owned and kept by UNH, said outgoing Superintendent Mark Conrad, and it is deliberately kept that way based on confidentiality concerns. Conrad and two other high-ranking officials in Nashua will depart this summer.

The turnover in district leadership this summer may present an obstacle, Sherman said.

“How will the interim superintendent view this going forward, or will it be put on hold?” he asked.

Marcoux spoke to the same point in the Monday meeting, saying “We have a year with this person, and 148 pages of climate survey that we need to address now, not a year from now when we have a person full time.”

The full survey results can be read online at drive.google.com/file/d/0B1RhBmQgPQxKRU92UFhZYnUwcXM/view

Tina Forbes can be reached at 594-6402, tforbes@nashuatelegraph. com or @Telegraph_TinaF.

Newsletter