School survey response at halfway mark

More than half of the Colfax school district staff responded to a survey asking them to anonymously rate the performance of the school administration and school board.

Kirby Dailey of Colfax, who initiated the survey after a series of public meetings, said Tuesday he hasn’t yet looked over the results.

Sixty-five staff out of the total 98 at the school have so far responded.

School district superintendent Michael Morgan e-mailed out the survey May 21 to school staff. Hard copies were also given to teachers.

Dailey approached the school board about an evaluation of the district’s performance after the public voted down the district’s $1.3 million levy last February.

As Dailey and others worked together to campaign for passing the next levy in the aftermath of the first levy failing, Dailey said he heard many complaints from the public and school staff about the administration and the school board.

Dailey conducted a public workshop asking for citizen input on a survey before the school board’s meeting May 10. More than 20 residents gathered and some gave their thoughts on having a feedback survey.

Dailey put together the first survey with the help of ESD 101 Superintendent Mike Dunn. ESD 101 is one of the overarching educational districts in Washington.

Once he gathers all of the data, Dailey said he would work with Dunn and former Colfax Superintendent Don Cox to summarize it.

The result will be a single sheet summarizing the staff’s feedback, Dailey said.

At a school board meeting May 24, the board made a motion to approve a second, longer survey and pass it out over a nine-day period. This survey will pinpoint long-term problems and long-term solutions for the district.

Staff received that longer survey in an e-mail May 28.

Dunn said Dailey called him for advice on what types of questions to ask for the first survey. Dunn said he threw out some open-ended questions.

Dunn added he felt the Colfax school district was outstanding in its operation.

“They are there for the right reasons. They are there because they care about kids and quality education,” Dunn said.