In Fall 2017, Wichita Public Schools Held 20 Listening Tour Sessions to Introduce Superintendent Dr
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In Fall 2017, Wichita Public Schools held 20 listening tour sessions to introduce Superintendent Dr. Alicia Thompson, engage stakeholders around the future of WPS and seek input that will help shape the next WPS Strategic Plan. The feedback from these sessions is below. Additional online feedback, including from a Twitter listening session, and from a Spring 2017 student session, is also included. Comments are included exactly as submitted with the following exceptions: personal identifying information has been removed; comments that covered multiple issues where separated into their unique issues. Comments are included in alphabetical order within each section; each row represents different respondents' answers. How can we best communicate with you to What is going well in accomplishing the What are some of the challenges in What needs to be in place to be able to promote an open and transparent district district's objectives? accomplishing the district's objectives? accomplish the district's objectives culture? #WPSProud - it's good to be proud 2nd Step not normed for under 4 100% transparency from all parties. Schools are doing a A better understanding of each schools' unique culture and better job at that but the board seems to still have it's secrets. how to accommodate that #WPSProud!! 2nd step supplementing A behavior plan. Teachers spend so much time trying to deal A creative hook - something that draws them to the with severe behaviors. I saw two principals, a few teachers information and an SRO look for a child in the building for 30 minutes. A behavior issue-this is ridiculous. Teachers are also concerned about their own safety. High school teachers are with students who are adult sized. There needs to be a strict behavior code and consequences. Parents are many times the problem and not the school’s responsibility but we have to give the other students a chance to learn. 259 4 school more focused on SECD 2nd step training A better/easier way for parents to give feedback and A discussion board would be nice to promote open dialogue. I suggestions on a regular basis. like the email updates, but am concerned that we cannot respond to the message. 2nd Step 6:50 start schools A great Strategic Plan which shows how you will increase A.T.(?) be in location where visible and accessible (leadership teachers and staff salaries over the next five years to equal exposure) what other districts are offering our staff to leave. Our greatest resource is our teachers and staff, and they need to be compensation equal to market value. To continue down the path will only increase the likelihood of staff unrest and failing attitudes. Another thing is we need to increase the technology in every classroom and in the teachers hands. This is both in the form of hardware and software. Students need the technology today in order to lead us into the future. 2nd Step A big challenge is to hire well qualified substitute teachers not A measurement for the "soft skills" Ability to get on BOE agenda just warm bodies. I feel like there are some teachers in WPS that need to retire . Some educators stay too long in the district and are burned out and take it out on students and parents. This also applies to some administrators. Some act like they don't even like kids. To be fair though I do know that student behavior is a challenge at times. Behavior of students has declined over the years. 1 How can we best communicate with you to What is going well in accomplishing the What are some of the challenges in What needs to be in place to be able to promote an open and transparent district district's objectives? accomplishing the district's objectives? accomplish the district's objectives culture? 2nd Step A little later school hours would help. My student gets up at A message of ownership to the parent population; support for Access 5:30 to be ready then comes home exhausted at the end of schools with PBS programs; fair raises the day. Buses run late a lot & the kids are charged as tardy. I don't feel that is their fault. SEHS is in the country with 4-way stops on all the major streets. Accidents are happening as the kids who drive do not know how to do those stops plus parents are in a hurry to get past the area. It's a disaster & needs to have lights - more traffic will get thru without problems. 2nd Step and a new focus on behaviors in the classroom. ABA training for teachers/staff who serve kids with autism A method for retaining teachers in this district that allows for Access to BOE decisions trusted relationships to be built so that teachers feel comfortable in reviewing their methods and trying new ideas. A lot of enthusiasm Absences A more appropriate schedule. The one right now is terrible, Access to the principal - when requesting a meeting both for teachers and kids. If you want learning to "stick," you have to do better. A lot of Magnet programs, gives choices Academic accountability vs social promotion - move the kids A more progressive look at how high school is taught. A more Accommodations for parents with out transportation on without mastery hands on, in the field way of teaching instead of expecting children to sit all day. I see this at every age level. Kids should be allowed movement in the classroom and not made to feel bad for being unable to sit still for long periods of time. Abundance of programs for those in need - extra curricular Academic challenges - meeting needs of academically high vs A new attorney. It's sad that WPS pays an attorney well over Action activities low $100K to fall asleep in meetings WITH PARENTS present, and one who is so disrespectful and hateful toward teachers. Academic progress monitoring Academic deficiency of students A plan for each individual school to raise money/request Actively being more engaged and reminded of meetings donations through regular mail and emails, text messages Academics first Academic environment of struggling kids with those who are A plan for growth, a plan to keep educating kids for the real Actually BE open and transparent.Instead of trying to spin not behind world and not just teaching to the test, investing in teachers things to sound the way that parents or teachers want it to be, so they come to school with passion just say it the way it is. Academics First. I like that you make academics a priority. Access to curriculum - standards A plan to attract male teachers as well as female teachers that Actually listen to the public, there is a disconnect within the are minority. A plan to hold parents accountable for their public and schoolboard children's behavior through education. Acceptance and equality for students Access to technology & connection to communications A really great staff that can control any situation without actually listen to the results of these surveys. Show the excuse. parents you are trying to help the students not just focus on the money. Let the teachers have more control of the day to day decisions and give therm tools to serve all students not just the students at or behind grade level. Teach the teachers to help the advanced students as well. Accessible leadership - listens & approachable According to the recent article about Southeast Highschool, it a set budget that accommodates raises and any unforseen Advertising board meetings and places to watch sounds like violence and behavior problems. issues 2 How can we best communicate with you to What is going well in accomplishing the What are some of the challenges in What needs to be in place to be able to promote an open and transparent district district's objectives? accomplishing the district's objectives? accomplish the district's objectives culture? Accessible teachers Account for different learning styles A solid tech plan to move us into 21st century learning for our Alert staff before media students and staff. Training for staff in this area as well. Students using H drives is antiquated and not effective. Departments need to do a better job communicating with one another. Acknowledging that there are concerns (high school) Accurate placement of students A sound financial plan and putting teachers as priority. Alicia's emails - more the better Active Engagement ACT - SAT Kids are not being introduced to the material that's A strong leader, a new BOE, and communication. All kids no matter what needs to have a bus most kids are on the ACT - SAT Every high school should offer a class that bikes alone are walking alone preps kids for the standardized test. Lots of hidden talent fallen by the wayside; mearly because of the cost of the test/ lack of preparation. Active shooter Add enrichment for upper kids A system of morality and actually enlightening the minds of All schools have a talking/listening session the children instead of programing their minds with falsehood to be a tool and regurgitate the information that they were told verses teaching them how to think. Addresses issues quickly Additional resources$$ A systemic approach for volunteer coordination Allow kids who aren't hand picked by the school administration to speak, you get biased answers when you only talk to kids who work fine in the current broken system. Addressing diversity of learners through AVID/IB/etc Additional support staff A working budget, safe schools, community involvement. Allowing new teachers to have a voice. Addressing staff shortages - hiring from within district Address the kids (all grade levels) who do not master the Academic & behavior support An opportunity for parents to be involved @ High School standards Adopting more current curriculums (in math at least).