By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
“Significant changes” are needed to improve the overall climate and staff morale within the Waterford Graded School District, an outside consultant asserted this week.
About three-dozen people — many of them teachers — withstood inclement weather Nov. 24 to attend the district’s regular board meeting, as consultants Roger Foegen and Mary DeYoung shared the results of a survey and a series of focus group meetings.
In the summer months, the school board and administrators agreed to conduct an anonymous survey — the district’s third in the past two years. This time around, WGSD contracted with the Slinger-based opinion research firm, School Perceptions.
The survey was administered last month and was followed up by a series of focus group sessions and individual meetings with teaching staff. Foegen and DeYoung, of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB), facilitated this portion of the process.
An overwhelming majority of the faculty took part in at least some portion of the process. Of approximately 170 staffers, 159 participated in the anonymous survey. Seventy teachers participated in the focus group or one-on-one interviews.
“I think that’s a key point … the number of people involved,” Foegen commented.
Foegen noted Waterford Graded has many attributes working in its favor, including fiscally sound budgeting and consistently above-average student achievement data. He also reviewed historical student enrollment and staffing throughout the district, noting a correlation in declines in both areas.
However, a study by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, as well as the School Perceptions survey, both identified several areas of concern voiced by staff in the district, Foegen said. “It is our opinion that the two reports align themselves by identifying the same concerns.”
Foegen and DeYoung gave a cursory overview of their findings in open session, then were to discuss more specific personnel issues in closed session during Monday’s meeting.
With regard to the anonymous School Perceptions survey, a question that asked about supportiveness of innovation and change gave stark differences.
Eighty-four percent of respondents perceived that building principals embody the quality. But, when asked the same question about district-level staff, the number dipped to 50 percent. It then dipped far lower — to 18 percent — for the School Board.
Another takeaway from the survey: only 13 percent of respondents said they believe Waterford Graded has a culture of open dialogue concerning difficult issues.
Most respondents — 72 percent — said they found their job to be personally satisfying. But only 51 percent said they are proud of WGSD. Follow-up questions revealed teachers felt overworked and were subjected to unrealistic expectations.
“The discouraging one, I guess, for me to see is (the question) asking if I would recommend this district to others seeking employment,” Foegen commented. “Only 28 percent agreed with that statement.”
Foegen said the results from a question asking about comparisons of WGSD to neighboring districts were “disappointing.” Fifty-two of respondents said the district is either worse or much worse from its peers, based on their perceptions.
Speaking to the results from the focus groups and individual meetings, DeYoung sounded a slightly optimistic tone.
“It was evident that each and every participant was concerned about the Waterford Graded School District,” DeYoung commented. “They want to return it to the exceptional school district it has always been in the past.”
DeYoung said teachers have expressed an overall sentiment of not feeling respected or recognized for their contributions. Other overarching themes raised in the interviews included limited professional development opportunities, a breakdown in communication and a micromanaging school board.
The board and administrators were mum before, during and after Foegen and DeYoung’s report — at least in the open session portion of the meeting.
The large audience also refrained from speaking to the issue during a public comment agenda item.
Foegen suggested all parties work together to rebuild strained relations.
“At some point, the turnover rate among staff and the work environment will begin to have a negative impact on student achievement,” Foegen commented as he provided recommendations. “It will take some significant changes in the way of doing business in Waterford Graded.”
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This is the result of the continued “wussification” of american society. What do they want a participation trophy or something. Really…time to pull up your big girl and big boy pants, get a grip on yourself and do your job! If you have it so bad and need someone to hold your hand so you feel better about yourself quit and go work somewhere else you “overworked” selfish twits. You get full time wages for working less than 8 months of the year. You have summers off, two weeks a Christmas, a week and Thanksgiving and a week at Easter…and at least 5 “sick” days. You pay nearly nothing toward your own retirement and a measly 12% toward your Cadillac heath insurance plan!!! Your compensation and part time work is the appreciation for doing your job – now do it!!!!!!!!!!!
So teachers are wealthy beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, hardly ever work, and have the greatest insurance package of all time. All for the easiest job on the Earth. Makes me wonder why D Mankel isn’t a teacher? If D Mankel is as smart is he/she claims to be, it would seem only reasonable that he/she would be smart enough to get a piece of that incredible lifestyle that teachers supposedly have.
I can only come to two reasonable conclusions.
1) D Mankel is delusional
2) Teachers do not have it as good as D Mankel claims.
I am a parent to two children at WGSD. The problem is teachers are leaving at an unsustainable rate. Clearly something is going on in the schools that are causing the teachers to leave. Some people say “let them leave”. These people are generally misinformed and do not care about the education that the students within the school are provided. People like D Mankel turn their own selfishness into a hatred of teachers, which is unfortunate. Instead of calling names and making up lies, we need to come together to find solutions to the problems. What can be done to keep high performing teachers in the district so that our students can get the best education possible? Having new teachers every year is not beneficial for anyone. Any business worth its salt would be concerned if 25% of it’s staff leaves every year. Enough of the name calling and negativity. Lets find solutions.
Your statement is a joke, “wussification” really? Teaching is not comparable to your “full time” job in any way. I also guarantee their work is leaps and bounds more important to this community than yours. In reality if you think teachers work starts and stops with the school schedule I will say you are fundamentally wrong, again. Knowing you do read these articles and are a reasonably informed citizen I would venture a guess you already know teachers are leaving in mass numbers from this district. Moreover, any reasonable person with children actually attending the school would know that this is not positive for this children’s education. Furthermore I do believe you commented on the article discussing the district Report Card and agreed that teachers do deserve credit and recognition for their work. Yet when teachers voice that they are not receiving what they deserve you begin to thrash them with unwarranted criticism that truly holds no weight. I would hope you truly inform yourself about what committed teachers put into their work. If you believe I am just showing up to work teaching a lesson and going home you are gravely mistaken. If you believe teachers are not constantly planning, assessing, and reworking their ideas to meet the needs of each individual student again you are misinformed. If you believe teachers are not continually bettering their craft through different educational opportunities you are mistaken. Their job causes them to receive almost constant public scrutiny yet they continually show up to teach those who will benefit you in the future. This community has one of the strongest educational systems in the state, and if your attitude persists it will lose that prestige. It will not happen this year or the next, but if we continually bring a culture that is unwelcoming to these professionals our schools will inevitably decline.
What a sad state D Mankel must live in. The hatred that he shows for members of our community is truly sad. I hope you get help.
Keith
RE: ‘wussification’
When I think ‘wuss’ I think of someone who lacks the resilience to deal with the stress of their own circumstance, questions why life is so hard, and laments the decisions or actions of others because it may require one to change or adjust to a new situation. Someone who resents and frets over challenge and effort. Others may chime in on this, but I can think of no one here that angrily cries with clenched fists at the unfairness of life more that D Mankle.
I feel sorry for D Mankel, the hate that flows from his brain cannot be healthy.
D Mankel….I hope that rant of yours made you feel better. I’m embarrassed for you.
Kellie
Name one thing that I said that isn’t true.
As a parent who attends the school board meetings, I find D Mankel’s comments to be repulsive. He is so far from reality it isn’t funny. As another poster said, I hope his rant makes him feel better about himself, he must live in a dark dark World. Get help D Mankel.
I can name several statements, while if not false, are certainly twisting the truth. Let’s start with the fact that teachers routinely put in 10-12 hour days five days a week plus extra time on weekends. Add up all those hours and compare them to a regular person’s 9-5, 50-week job (two weeks vacation). Don’t bother, I just did: 40 hours a week times 50 weeks is 2,000 hours a year. Teachers, who, by the way, work 10 months of the year, not eight, have that amount even WITH two summers months off.
Then, let’s talk about those Cadillac benefits. Actually, let’s not. Go call the school district and find out what those benefits are now, first. See what teachers are required to pay toward those benefits, too. When you find out how much more is coming out of a teacher/staff member’s paycheck, please let me know. Add that to paying for their retirement – that and the benefits payment I support in Act 10, thanks – and you can see how much less teachers take home these days.
All this so people like you can keep up the whole misinformed “they’ve got it so good, quit whining!” attitude amidst tougher job evaluation standards than in private sector jobs, less job security and no control over about half of that evaluation criteria because teachers get no say in who they teach.
You’re so far from the truth – and yet, so convinced you are right. No wonder teachers don’t want to work to teach your kids.
“Wussification,” working less than 8 months, summers off, part time work, selfish twits, wanting a participation trophy, and I could go on. The unjustified blasphemy you deem an “argument” can’t be taken seriously even by a newborn child.
…again, everything I said was the truth. They are off virtually all of June, July and August. They typically get 5 to 8 sick or personal days, they DO get off a week at Thanksgiving, the DO get off two weeks at Christmas and they DO get off a week at the Easter break = 8 months of work! They pay 12% of their health insurance premium – while the private sector averages 25%. They pay 5.6% toward THEIR retirement, while in the private sector, a typical employee may be lucky to have a 401K plan…where at best there is an employer match…so a typical private sector pays, if lucky, 50% toward their retirement, and obviously 100% if there is no employer match! All of us know teachers as friends and have teachers a relatives. This whole take home work 10-12 hour days is pure bunk and everyone knows it. Teachers are handsomely paid and receive very generous benefits – there is no doubt about it. By the way, no where in my posts did I ever say that teachers don’t deserve it! As someone earlier said, I have in the past, and I am now again saying the Waterford has great schools and the lions share of the credit goes to the teachers and the kids parents. However, I am pointing out that they are very well compensated both in terms of their wage and the benefits and they should appreciate what they have and enough of the pity party already.
Aaron Rodgers makes $18,000,000 a year and he only works 16 Sundays a year.
Don’t be a cry baby Mankel
I’m sorry that life has not been fair to you D Mankel. I’m guessing when you were in school your teachers told you to do well in school so you can get a good job. Life is all about choices. Please don’t complain because others have it better than you because chances are, those have made the choices in their life to live the life they lead.
My question still remains, if teachers have it so good, why don’t you become a teacher?
Comparing the Public and Private sectors is a joke. Public employees specifically teachers’s wages increase at a rate less than the private sector. Moreover, they do not top out at the same amounts which is why offering good benefits is a trade-off of working in the Public Sector. A teacher holding a bachelors or masters degree will not make as much as a person holding those degrees in the private sector. Someone teaching engineering in high school will not make as much money as someone working as an engineer for a private company. Lastly, I will continue to disagree with the aspect of taking work home. The most hard working and successful teachers continue to do work outside of normal hours of operation of the school. Grading,lesson planning, PLC work, communicating with parents and students, and the list goes on. This can not all be accomplished in a 8 hour day where they teach for 6 hours, prep for an hour, and have a meeting the final hour. So inevitably they stay later or take work home which creates a day longer than 8 hours. I will also point to the main purpose of the article. The district administrator has become toxic to the learning community in Waterford. The turnover of teachers is disgusting and will in turn effect the learning outcomes of students. Anyone with a boss that becomes ineffective or destructive to the goals of the institution should speak up and make it be known. I am yet to understand why it becomes an issue that the employees of the school district have spoken up to identify a problem. The culture you are advocating for creates a destructive environment for the employees and the children. I am not sure that the parents of the school district want their teachers to just show up and work. This is a job of compassion and if someone is attempting to destroy the positive environment in any work place I would expect people to stand up and voice their concerns. Stop advocating for a destructive mindset the children of the Waterford area deserve more than that.
DMankel,
All you did was state facts. People are calling you the angry one. Look at all the replies, who is angry?
I too wonder why people with such a generous benefit package and nice schedule would complain so much. We aren’t the only ones who are baffled. But no one else will post, if you bring it up you will be vehemently attacked and then they will call you the angry one. Just remember the capitol building being destroyed that is who you are dealing with.
Re Bill E.
You are wrong in your assumption that all those who comment were involved or supported the protests of Act 10. That assumption aside, any person in any workplace has the right to speak out about destructive individuals in the workplace. This “shut up and work” attitude and culture you advocate for is destructive to the success of any work place, especially a learning environment. Taking out the side arguments of pay, hours, and benefits the fact remaining from this article is that the Waterford Graded School District is not a highly recommended place of work. Supporting facts being the survey conducted and the very concerning turnover rate. Any person looking at these variables would say there is an issue needing to be addressed.
Fortunately the overwhelming majority of people do not agree with D Mankel’s statements.
As a professional psychiatrist, I believe this is a classic case of someone who is reaching out for attention. Oftentimes clients who need attention reach out in inappropriate ways, like saying offensive things or lying just to create attention. In these cases people see any attention as good attention.
In the future when D Mankel posts something, I suggest sitting back at your computer screen, having a good chuckle at what he posted and then ignoring what he posted. Replying to him only fuels his need for attention.
A personal message to D Mankel, I hope you find professional help, and find better ways to deal with your anger issues.
Ahhh yes…the Internet…isn’t it lovely. A place where people like D Mandkel can sit in his mom’s basement and post idiotic things.
Please D Mankel, turn off the computer, and get some fresh air.
Not sure what the problem is but as a very Old Guy I am proud of our schools.I don’t live here because of the taxing etc. I love it for Waterford and the friends and support. Do not be blinded for the love of money. Life goes on and with you will also understand that there is more to life for all of us. The kids will carry on with our support and sacrifices as in the past God Bless and Merry Christmas.
I see the pity party continues!
I believe the survey states a hostile work environment, poor district administration (Mr. Joch), and poor confidence in the school board as major reasons why the attrition rate is 2X HIGHER then all other schools in the area…Nothing about benefits, salary and time off. Don’t confuse the issues with your personal beliefs.
Fact is–If the school were run like a private business (like Act 10 was meant to help with), immediate changes would be needed to “right the ship” that is OUR school district.
Great teachers are leaving and quality is lessening, I have seen it firsthand with my 2 children. Again, this attrition is at a 2x higher rate then all other schools that also have ACT 10 to follow. So by that logic, does this make Waterford school teachers 2x more “wussified” then all other school teachers around us D mankel? Again–fact is teachers are leaving for competing school districts that offer the EXACT same benefits and time off.
Another fact–there is a direct correlation between the quality of schools and home values (please google it). School stink, so does your home value.