Manatee County School District hopes for community feedback

Aside from an hour of public comments at twice-a-month school board meetings, Manatee County parents, teachers and other concerned residents don't have many opportunities to constructively criticize or applaud the school district for its efforts, education officials agreed.

To gauge the feelings of the "silent majority," which doesn't speak out at regular board meetings, the district is organizing a climate survey to be completed by local residents.

At its workshop at 3 p.m. and board meeting at 5:45 p.m. June 9, board members, Superintendent Diana Greene, Manatee Education Association President Pat Barber and other parties will present the survey's framework, which will include who will conduct the survey and how, benefits of the survey and next steps for implementing the results of the survey.

Teachers, community leaders and other stakeholders, such as Pat Neal, of communities, Philip Brown, of United Way, might comprise the committee that will help create and facilitate the survey. Next steps include an invitation to Neal, Brown and other parties to determine who will serve on the survey committee. 

Other topics for discussion include terms of Greene's contract, such as the $180,000 salary, number of paid sick days, and Greene's obligation to complete the district-wide survey no later than Sept. 1.

Officials will in May of 2016 revisit Greene's contract, which is slated to expire June 2016.

To view the workshop and board meeting agendas, visit  manateeschools.net.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].