Teacher Survey Results/Comments

A few observations about this December 2007 survey:

In posting the teacher survey, SNEA is not presenting the results as statistically valid data. Frankly, the response was just about the same percentage of voters in a typical election, which was somewhat disappointing. Whether this reflects indifference, cynicism, lack of knowledge or just how busy our lives are . . . the return could have been better.

However, anytime a significant number of teachers speak out on issues like collective bargaining, CQI, class size, accountability and a host of other topics directly related to their work . . . they are bound to offer some insights that may not be heard in the typical staff meeting or open forum.

We regard this survey as a tool to illuminate some opportunities for improvement in Springfield Public Schools - from the teachers' perspective. The results will be shared with district administrators. Our hope is that the survey and comments will spur constructive dialogue with district leadership. A sincere thank you goes out to all the teachers who took the time to respond. Please post or share with colleagues in your building.

2007-08 Springfield Teacher Survey

1) Since the Missouri Constitution provides that employees choose their bargaining agent, which of the following best describes your preference?

Springfield NEA 88%
MSTA 10%
No Representation 2%


2) Do you believe the school district should conduct an election so employees can choose a bargaining agent?

Yes 93%
No 6%
Other 1%


3) Most Important Items to Negotiate

Salaries 182
Class Size 76
Insurance Benefits 73
Meetings/Extra Work Hours/Contract Time 31
Improved Sick Leave/Long Term Disability/Sick Bank 20
Discipline Issues 16
Equitable Facilities 9
Less Reliance on Testing 9
Teachers Involved in District Decision-Making 8
Too Many Programs/Paperwork 7
Personal Day Policy 6
Evaluation of Administrators 5
No Split Classes at Elementary Level 4
Cancel SIP Days and reallocate money to salaries 4
Improve Professional Development 3
Increase Coach Stipends 3
Tuition reimbursement for continuing education 2
Add Career Ladder 2
Transfer Policy 2
Improved Technology 2
School Calendar 2
More money for supplies 2
Substitute Services
Curriculum for district programs
Increase Counselor Stipend
Extra Pay for Title I Teachers
Improved Hiring Processes
--------------------------------

Comments
[Replies from SNEA in brackets. Thank you for submitting so many excellent comments and suggestions.]


Compensation

Salaries should be comparable to districts that are our size, not with area schools that have a fraction of our student population.

Salaries should be competitive with like-sized districts in St. Louis and KC.

We should have comparable pay to school districts in Missouri of comparable size. Springfield should be the salary leader in our area and not be playing leapfrog with smaller districts in our region. Also, our hiring should be done earlier to attract better new teachers and not take what is left to us in August.

[We agree completely with the three comments above. Springfield is the third largest school district in the state. We should not be compared to small, suburban districts when it comes to salaries.]

We need to get the windfall Social Security act repealed.

Teacher have the right to keep our paid Social Security.

Please keep lobbying for the Social Security benefits for teachers.

[The House of Representatives subcommittee held a hearing this month, but the transcript has not been released yet. More information later. Congressman Blunt is a co-sponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act that would repeal GPO/WEP.]

Instead of taking off of our plate, we are being asked to do more and more assessment - and our kids are tested to death. If we are required to do more, then our salaries should reflect that extra work.

Teachers moving to Springfield from other districts with years of experience are not getting credit for more than ten years experience.

We are one of the largest districts in the state, and we should have some of the higher salaries in the state.

SNEA has done a good job in negotiating improvements in salaries - keep it up!

[SNEA serves on the Compensation Committee, but it's a stretch to call that negotiating. We simply present ideas and concerns and hope for the best. Thanks for the encouragement.]

I would like to see Springfield restored as the premier place to work.


Collective Bargaining, Administration/Teacher Relations

We should have a vote to force the administration and board to recognize one teacher representative - like Rockwood.

The administration and board should demonstrate that they value SNEA’s ties to teachers and involvement in education.

I am shocked and embarrassed to be a part of a district that values test scores over its employees. We are asking for a chance for our voices to be truly heard. We want our students to be open-minded and respectful of others’ opinions. It’s time we adults were positive models and just listen to one another.

I’m in favor of an election even though I only see one organization taking an active role in trying to make improvements in the district. If I get the chance, I know who I’ll vote for.

All of the unpaid hours we work! WFSG, CQI, STI, blah, blah . . . It is consuming our lives!

I personally believe that the superintendent is moving away from teacher input at the district level. He consistently makes decisions that help influence the board. His focus on CQI has changed the school district but has put the teachers’ concerns at the bottom of the improvement list - even though they are directly related to academic improvement.

It appears that the more we try to move away from micro-managing, the closer we come to it! Can we not all work together for what is right for kids?

[We have observed that the incidence of "micro-managing" or "over-managing" varies greatly from building to building. Some principals seem to trust their teachers to work as professionals, others seem to think that numerous meetings and observations are necessary to keep teachers on task. In the end, it's a matter of trust.]

We should get rid of CQI. I have taught for a number of years and have never seen a system that causes more stress for teachers. I have never heard so many teachers talk of retirement, and the cause is CQI.

[From what I've seen, it's all in how CQI is presented at the building level. District leadership has a broad understanding of the principles of CQI, and so do many principals. However, it appears that jumping on to the CQI bandwagon is sometimes done for all the wrong reasons. Some principals appear to be in a mad dash to push CQI in order to impress their superiors. Teachers are more interested in results than appearances.]

I hope we will become one and actually have a voice for the first time in my teaching career.

Many things can be accomplished with a strong union that is willing to fight to improve education.

We deserve to be involved in the decision-making process.

Teachers need to have improved representation on matters that affect their jobs.

Unfortunately, I believe collective bargaining is the only way will be heard.

We already have a bargaining agent through Springfield NEA.

[Again, SNEA is not in a position to bargain for anything under the current setup, but we do listen to our members and push for positive change. Collective bargaining for teachers will allow us to sit down with district leadership and collaborate in good faith on policies and working conditions for teachers. As several have said in these comments . . . teachers should be a meaningful part of the decision-making process in this district.]

We need to get MSTA to support our initiatives. Working together would help everyone.

[It would be great if MSTA supported our initiatives . . . however, the two teacher organizations are at the opposite ends of the collective bargaining spectrum. MSTA lawyers argued vehemently against CB before the Missouri Supreme Court last May, opposing MNEA's efforts to give Missouri teachers the same rights that are afforded teachers in 34 other states. It's hard to imagine sitting down at a bargaining table with a partner that fundamentally disagrees with the bargaining process you fought to achieve. We believe one strong voice for teachers will be more effective. The district should take their cue from other districts and either recognize the largest organization or hold a fair representative election.]

Our school board is in violation of the state constitution. They expect their teachers to follow certain guidelines, and so should they. No one should be above the law.

The district has a history of playing the two teacher organizations off each other, so the process of collective bargaining will be difficult. NEA must find a way to work with MSTA, or the CB process will stall indefinitely.

[Given the fact that MSTA leadership advised their members to "throw away" this survey should provide a little insight into their spirit of cooperation with SNEA. MSTA's opposition to collective bargaining is well-documented, and there is no evidence that they are willing to work together with any group in a true bargaining climate.]

The way to establish a climate of collaboration in the district is to ensure that all stakeholders share power. I believe collective bargaining will allow the classroom experts (teachers) an opportunity to positively influence the teaching and learning environment of this district. Clearly, our district is strong and committed to improvement. This is evident from the SP5 project and the many ways our administration and school board already works well with certificated staff. The difficulty comes when teachers are not part of the actual decision-making process that drives policies which affect them daily. By using positive collective bargaining models across the nation, like Iowa and Oregon, Springfield has an opportunity to create an educational reality that is specifically designed to meet the needs of our community, our students and our teachers.

Keep up the good work! I appreciate it!

How can Springfield R-VII not recognize collective bargaining when it is the law? Take them to court if they continue to refuse.

[This is a possibility. The school district's lawyer has been contacted by MNEA legal services. There has been no response at the time of this writing.]

Why can’t professionals have representation? Are we not to be trusted to choose for the well-being of children? It’s high time that those who are the foundation of education have a voice in Springfield’s future.

An election would be a waste of time. Half of the teachers would feel shut out.
We need unified representation of teachers and personnel grievance procedures for teachers in each building.

[All of the teachers would vote, and all of the teachers would be represented by the group that carries a majority. Those of us who have been on the losing end of numerous elections know very well that life goes on. We live in a democracy. Elections happen.]

I would favor a single union representative in the district.

A bargaining unit would be unproductive for the majority of Springfield teachers and the community. Status quo representation is adequate.

Exclusive representation was attempted years ago, but maybe now is the time.

[In 1991, the district allowed teachers to vote for exclusive representation, and the result was, incredibly enough, a tie. While the election was inconclusive, it did set a precedent. The earth did not stand still.]

I hope we can unite to help education in the political realm.

I’m ready to do whatever necessary steps need to be taken for our voice to be heard. I worked in another state that had collective bargaining, and it usually work well. Getting the parents on board was a big help.

If collective bargaining is the law, then SPS should abide by the law. We are asked to be mindful of the law and so are our students. District leadership should be a role model.

[Exactly. The district could take the initiative and be proactive on this issue. It will not simply go away.]

It is imperative that teachers and staff have representation for collective bargaining. How can the district expect to know our initiatives as teachers if our voices are not heard? Aren’t we as teachers expected to know the district’s initiatives? Open forums, right?

We need to have an organized bargaining capability. Two groups will not work.

[For what it's worth, following the 1991 election for representation that ended in a tie, the district set up an advisory committee with reps from both groups. Only one group offered proposals, and the committee disbanded within two years.]

I believe it is offensive to my profession that we are so disrespected by our superintendent and board members. I am a veteran teacher with a masters degree. I love teaching and plan to teach for many years to come. As an SNEA member, I plan to continue to see our membership grow. Teachers of every age are frustrated at the lack of support from our board and administrative leaders. I am working at least 15 hours a day and still going in to work on one afternoon over the weekend to do everything I am suppose to do.

I only have 30 minutes a day planning time on most days. This time is usually spent doing some WFSG or ID form or something to do with PDSA (CQI). When am I suppose to do my planning or grade papers? I have nearly 100 students and I TEACH all day. I don’t sit down at my desk or grade papers when I have students. I go to work at 6:30 and I never leave before 5:00 at night. I believe if the "higher-ups" want more from me, then I expect to be paid for a 15-hour day and the half day I work on weekends. I know people living in other states that are making much higher salaries than we are here in Springfield - the difference is, they have collective bargaining. We need it, too.

The Missouri Constitution states that teachers have the right to bargain collectively, although it isn’t mandated. SPS, therefore, isn’t in blatant violation . . . They are just choosing to reject our right.

[Since teachers are asking for representation (we are), and the district is denying it (they are), the district is in violation of the state constitution.]

Keep lobbying for teacher social security benefits. Thank you for your hard work. We need one strong voice to represent teachers and support staff.

District officials should abide by what is written in the Missouri Constitution.

Teachers are not respected in this district.

We should be allowed to bargain collectively because it is a constitutional right. The school board should not deny us this right.

Shouldn’t the democratic process be in effect for public policy decision-making? Many of our current committees are made up of hand-selected teachers that aspire to administrative positions. They are bound to agree with administrative policies in order to climb the ladder. They are not true representatives of teachers in the district. Open invitation to committees in this district is unheard of. Just like large corporations, such as Ford or GM, the system will implode from self-righteousness. It is already happening as quality teachers leave, and the best new teachers seek employment outside of Springfield.

Unfortunately, this district does not take SNEA seriously. Teachers are afraid to speak up out of fear. Additionally, expectations of Springfield’s teachers has soared over the last few years. We are constantly reminded to be professional and accountable, yet our pay does not reflect "professional" status, even after the raise this year.

This action (representative election) is long overdue.

Teachers need to be valued as something other than replacement parts and treated as the educated professionals that they are. Who knows what is best for the students?
Communication between administration and teachers needs big improvements.

Respect. Teachers do know what is going on in the classrooms and administrators need to listen. Go for it!

I believe the school board should appoint a bargaining agent based on which group has the largest membership.

Collective bargaining is an exciting opportunity for teachers in Springfield.

I believe SNEA should be our bargaining agent, but all employees should be able to voice their opinion.

[We agree completely. Whoever the exclusive bargaining agent might be, they would represent all teachers, regardless of their affiliation.]

SNEA should be the representative for teachers in our district.

I believe we should have an election if it will result in the board actually hearing the teachers’ voice.

It is time the district followed this ruling by the state Supreme Court rather than ignoring the teachers.

I am fairly new to teaching and somewhat distracted. I appreciate the email updates and apologize for my ignorance of the issues.

Teachers in Missouri should have the same rights as teachers in other states. I am not a member. I will watch and see.

It has been obvious in the past that SNEA has been the organization which actively works to strengthen and support the role of teachers in the district.

We need to be moderate in our demands - too radical is not a good idea. There are risks if it goes to an arbitrator.

[That's true, arbitration is a two-sided coin. And it would probably be a rare occurrence. We don't see CB as teachers coming to the table with a list of demands and the district issuing responses. The school district and the teachers actually share a common goal . . . great schools and constantly improving the learning environment for our students. We are proposing a respectful, collaborative environment to strengthen our school district.]

Why does our district leadership think they are above the law and don’t have to adhere to the state constitution?

[Like many other districts across the state, they are taking the advice of the Missouri School Board Association, which may be placing itself in legal jeopardy for advising their members to ignore the state constitution.]

Collective bargaining needs to work forward in our district.

I do not favor an election because I believe that the teacher organization with the most members in this district has already been selected. By paying our membership dues, we have already voted for a representative.

[This is a viable option for the district. They have turned down SNEA's request.]

We should hold an election if the district won’t recognize the largest organization.
If the district will not allow us to select a representative group, legal action should be swiftly taken.

Contract Time/Meetings

Teachers need input into staff development activities. WFSG, staff meetings and professional development activities planned by the district are a joke and a waste of time. They are a big reason I will retire the second I am eligible.

"Extra Duty" with no pay is a real issue. I’m expected to attend PTA meetings in the evenings, stay until 8:00 pm (or later) two evenings during conference week - after teaching a full day - and spend an afternoon in summer passing out lockers. I spend enough of my own time planning, grading papers. I feel that I should be compensated for the extra school duties that are required of me.

Stop increasing demands (CQI, TST, weekly grades, etc) while decreasing (less planning time, non-productive meetings) time to fulfill the demands. We need to schedule some days where teachers can work in their rooms!

Equal planning time for elementary teachers - equal to secondary.

The school calendar needs to be more teacher friendly. We need days to work on grades and reports.

Teachers need more time for data analysis, compiling resources and materials and grade card completion.

Professional development is a complete waste of time.

Employee Benefits

In an insurance situation such as ours, the more employees the better. Could Springfield join with MSU, Drury, Evangel, OTC, MSU?

Need more personal business days, more than one. Also, pay for evening activities. Better health plan, especially dental.

It is a shame that with as many employees as R-12 has that we do not have a reasonable medical plan.

Sick Leave policy does not provide incentives for good attendance

I appreciate what SNEA is doing to help with Social Security Offsets.

Our insurance benefits are the pits! Surely a district our size can do better.

Budget Choices

Stop spending money on new buildings and re-draw the lines for schools. We could save a bundle.

We should allocate more funds for classroom teachers and cut the ever-increasing number of administrative positions.

We should decrease the number of administrative personnel, especially those that don’t teach. This district pays more money on salaries and benefits for people who are not teachers or never have been . . . And do very little to help the classroom teacher.

FTE allowances per building are changing almost every year. We remove a teacher and then need them back the following year. Principals want teachers to do full time jobs at school and give them part-time status because of the forced FTE situation.


This survey is already a plus for collective bargaining. Teachers need to have a voice that matters. Our administration usually asks our opinions but hardly ever follow through. More teachers would be willing to serve on committees if they knew that they were actually making a difference and the people in charge will actually listen. I believe that Collective Bargaining is something better for children and public education. This is the most important survey I’ve responded to in all my years of teaching.

In the Classroom

Springfield schools needs to establish an alternative school for students with habitually poor behaviors. Our classes are disrupted daily, and the average student is not getting a fair education because too much time is spent on classroom discipline.

The mandated reporter law is a sham. DSS does not function, and teachers are left to care for those children who have now become victims of their families AND the state of Missouri.

They say one of their goals is smaller class size, but I don’t see it. To even qualify for an aide, the numbers must be high. For students in a Title I school, this is a definite disadvantage.

Stop the continual addition of "things" we are to do in the classroom.

Principals tend to infringe on our planning and instructional time. We need to have policies in place that better define our contract day.

There are too many administrators overseeing teachers. I think many of them became administrators because they couldn’t teach in the first place.

Administrators need to follow through on discipline referrals and not try to tie our hands just for the sake of padding their school discipline statistics.

Please don’t forget the classroom aides. We could not function in our early childhood environment without them. We should seek funding to start Pre-K in all buildings - or - multiple Pre-K/early childhood centers in Springfield.

We need more trained teachers to understand and work with children with behavior issues. We continue to deal with this more and more every year.

MAP-A has no validity and is more a test of how a teacher writes than anything else. I don’t now of any special ed teacher who regards MAP-A as a valid test. It is very time consuming and graded by people who seem to know little or nothing about special education.

I am frustrated with the lack of support with disruptive students. We refer them to the office, and they are sent back to your room. Also there is too much of: CQI, CCI, SP5, PDSA, SIP, PD, etc., etc.

At our school, morale is low and frustration is high. Students are not being held to any form of accountability for their behavior. Some don’t come to school, and yet teachers are blamed for giving too many F’s. Students refuse to work and complete assignments, and teachers are, again, blamed . . . And then there is CQI. We all are over-worked as it is, let’s take on one more "flavor of the month" initiative . . . And the endless classroom walk-throughs. I guess it’s just a lack of respect for our profession here at SPS. We are treated like a hindrance and are expected to do more and more and more. We are expected to prove that we are actually doing our job with these walk-throughs, documentation folders, whole faculty study groups and more. Maybe next we’ll get tracking implants to prove we aren’t taking too long to go to the bathroom.
And politicians debate "merit pay". I have taught homeless kids, pregnant girls who have been disowned, teen parents, schizophrenic kids, mentally retarded kids, kids who hear voices, felons, gang members, bullies, deaf kids, abused kids, kids who read at a 3rd grade level in high school, kids whose only meals come from school . . . Most of them "bombed" the MAP, but I think working with these kids has merit. I am a professional, please treat me that way. (Sorry to rant, but I needed to vent.)

I have had to spend unbelievable amounts of my own money for basic things, including printer cartridges, art and craft supplies, etc.

When required to attend out of town professional training, don’t expect teachers to share rooms . . . Especially with people they do not know.

We need a credit recovery program at the secondary level.

We are tired of being told so often that the "new" way of teaching is good because it is research-based. It seems that whatever we teach now is wrong . . . And it was the right way just five years ago.

Take away some of the teacher responsibilities like CQI, WFSG, Literacy Lab, TST, Step Up, PLP. All of these were part of my responsibilities from year one to four. Last year, I had 72 hours of some kind of training. I feel so burned out. You almost have to force me to go to any workshop or training. Most of the hours were earned after school. I also gave up 15 hours of my release time to learn CQI outside of those 72 hours. I had no choice.

Get rid of CQI. It is terrible for teachers, though it’s probably great for Ford of GM. It’s a huge time waster for us. Second, let’s "get real" and stop punishing teachers with "accountability" when the school can’t do a darn thing about Johnny’s or Joanie’s home life - which is the real reason why they are failing. Schools cannot "fix" families and social problems. We need to stop pretending that we can.

Am I to be held accountable because a drug addict’s kid is under performing in my class?

Can the district somehow promote parent and student accountability?

Let teachers teach. The MAP in NOT the most important thing in education . . . Children are.

I know the testing issue is really driven by state and federal mandates, but it is becoming a meaningless numbers game. It is destroying morale and burning out a lot of excellent teachers. I say, give the legislators and administrators the MAP test and see if they can pass at student goal rates.

The district should improve the nutritional value of school breakfasts and lunches - this would ease a lot of stress for me as a special education teacher . My Title I students are served honey buns, fruit loops and pancakes with syrup for breakfast each day. Our meals should model good nutrition, not just minimum standards!