The results of the 2013/14 Rocky View Schools (RVS) Accountability Report were released to the public at the Nov. 6 RVS board meeting and despite some slight decreases in some survey areas, satisfaction of students, staff and parents remains strong, according to RVS.
“Over the past five years Rocky View Schools has maintained consistently high satisfaction results not only with staff but with parents and students as well,” RVS Superintendent of Schools Don Hoium told the board of trustees.
He said, since 2009 the division has seen trends of increasing student satisfaction, while parental and staff satisfaction remain strong and within one to three per cent of the previous year.
Student results
According to the report, since 2009, 11 out of the 28 survey areas for students have increased between five and 10 per cent, with 16 areas growing between one and four per cent.
Ninety-one per cent of students indicated they feel welcome at the school; down from 92 per cent in 2012/13.
Eighty-nine per cent indicated they feel safe at school, which is identical to the results from the previous year.
The highest level of satisfaction was for students feeling they take responsibility for their own learning, which came in at 94 per cent as it did in the previous year.
The lowest level of student satisfactions was 53 per cent for students showing respect for each other on the bus.
This was a one per cent increase from 2012/13 when 52 per cent of students indicated they were satisfied in this area.
The biggest change was seen in online resources where 66 per cent, up from 62 per cent in 2012/13, of students indicated they used the online resources after school to help them learn.
Parent results
Parental satisfaction increased five to nine per cent on most measures in 2012/13 and this level of satisfaction was maintained in 2013/14, according to the report.
Eighty per cent of parents indicated the needs of all learners are met at school; this is down from 82 per cent in 2012/13.
Eighty-three per cent of parents said the needs of their child are being met at the school, which is down from 84 per cent the previous year.
Eighty-two per cent of parents indicated the school enables their child to excel and achieve excellence; this is down from 83 per cent in 2012/13.
The area with the greatest change was regarding assessment.
Seventy-nine per cent of parents indicated they are satisfied the assessment feedback their child is given helps the child improve; this is down from 84 per cent the previous year.
In addition to this 80 per cent of parents indicated they are satisfied with the way the school keeps them informed about their child’s progress and achievements, which is down from 84 per cent in 2012/13.
The lowest level of parental satisfaction was parents’ satisfactions their child is meeting the goals established in the child’s Individual Program Plan; this came in at 77 per cent satisfaction, which is down from 78 per cent the previous year.
Staff results
According to the report, RVS has maintained consistently high satisfaction levels among staff over the last five years, with very little variance year over year.
Ninety per cent of staff respondents indicated RVS is a good place to work; this is down one per cent from 2012/13.
Ninety-two per cent indicated the school they work at is a good place to work, which is up one per cent from the previous year.
Eighty-three per cent indicated they have the adequate resources to do their job; this is down from 84 per cent in 2012/13.
The lowest satisfaction result was 67 per cent, which indicated the percentage of staff satisfied with the appreciation they receive at RVS; this is down from 68 per cent the previous year. However, the report did highlight this as an area for further improvement.
The area with the greatest change was staff being satisfied the technology available at their school meets 21st Century standards, which decreased from 89 per cent in 2012/13 to 85 per cent in 2013/14. Trustee Sylvia Eggerer suggested the Board further discuss the 67 per cent staff appreciation result at another meeting to attempt to address the issue, but added RVS is a highly desired place to work as each new job posting the division has is “inundated with applicants.”
“I don’t think the numbers reflect the reality,” she said.
“It was a difficult year,” she added.
“The Province was in negotiations with teachers and we were sort of in limbo between both of them.”
