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Survey Weighs Issues Facing Schools: Top Concern for Parents, Kids, Teachers is Solving Problems Without Fighting

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By Russ Keen, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

Mar. 15--On the whole, students, parents and staff at Aberdeen's five public elementary schools agree on one thing.

Solving problems without fighting is the No. 1 concern of all three groups. That's according to a survey the elementary counseling program conducted in December. Results were announced at the school board meeting this week.

The survey's purpose was to identify issues that counselors might need to address. The No. 2 concern of parents and students is organizing and completing homework. But for teachers, the No. 2 concern is students making friends and getting along with friends.

These are the results for the five schools as a whole. The top concerns at a particular school aren't always the same as the overall top concerns, said Becky Guffin, the district's director of educational services. Survey participants were given a list of 12 concerns from which to choose.

Each of the five schools has its own counselor. Board member Bob Nikolas asked Guffin if the survey results shed any light on a proposal to reduce the number of grade school counselors to four.

The survey had nothing to do with the proposal, Guffin said, and was taken before the proposal surfaced earlier this year. The survey does show, however, that areas of concern vary from school to school, she said.

Also this week the board:

-- Learned that 12 applications were received for the principal opening at O.M. Tiffany Elementary School, where Principal Mark DeGroot plans to retire at the end of the school year. Four of the 12 were selected for interviews, which took place Monday and Tuesday.

Also, 29 applied for an assistant principal position at Central High School, where assistant Principal Char Akkerman plans to retire at the end of the school year. Six of the 29 were selected for interviews, which took place Tuesday.

-- Heard a report from Central Principal Jason Uttermark on various happenings at Central.

-- Reviewed a preliminary three-year plan for the technology department. The board intends to discuss the plan further at its March 27 meeting.

-- Heard an update on the gifted education program, which this year serves 103 students.

-- Unanimously approved a donation of $941 from the Sertoma Club to be applied toward the purchase of an amplification system valued at $1,075 for Lincoln Elementary School.

-- Unanimously approved the resignation of Tami Jung as middle school girls' basketball coach at the end of the school year.

-- Unanimously approved second reading and adoption of various policy revisions.

-- Recognized students who captured championships at the state debate tournament.

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Copyright (c) 2006, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: American News (Aberdeen, S.D.)

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