La Grange Highlands Union Signals Concerns, Despite Positive Survey

LA GRANGE, IL – A recent survey of teachers in La Grange Highlands School District 106 showed they were largely happy with the district.

But the union said teachers' comments indicated they were frustrated and lacked trust in the administration.

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According to the union, two-thirds of the district's 83 teachers answered the survey.

Nearly 60 percent of teachers said they wouldn't want to work in any other school district.

And three-quarters said they would recommend the school to parents seeking a place for their children. The same percentage also indicated they looked forward to each working day.

At the middle school, 96 percent of teachers said Principal Megan VerVynck's word can be trusted. And 91 percent rated her as an effective manager.

Meanwhile, 88 percent indicated that they trusted the word of Laura Magruder, the elementary school's principal. About three-quarters of teachers labeled her an effective manager.

Superintendent John Munch received mostly good ratings as well. Nearly three-quarters said he provided a safe environment for students and staff and was accessible and responded to concerns promptly.

However, only about a third said he knows how to get staff, students, parents and the community to work together to help children learn.

Despite the largely positive ratings, the union provided a narrative that indicated concerns with the school district.

The union, which is part of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, said the most significant and consistent theme was a lack of trust between staff and the district's leadership.

Teachers, the union said, expressed concerns about openness, consistency and credibility in decision-making.

"Staff expressed frustration regarding decisions that are perceived as being made behind closed doors, inconsistencies between messaging and actions, and a lack of clarity regarding district priorities, hiring decisions, compensation structures and administrative decision-making," the union said.

The union also said teachers indicated concerns about micromanagement, perceived favoritism and insufficient support for building administrators.

The union's narrative appears to conflict with the numbers in the survey. Patch left a message for comment with the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

In an interview Tuesday, Superintendent Munch said it was hard to know what percentage of teachers provided negative comments because the union did not provide the raw data.

"When I look at the results of the union survey, I see a desire for our district to collaborate and have a great school culture and invest in relationships," Munch said. "I share that desire."

He said the district enacted a long-term plan a couple of months ago, predating the survey results. The plan, he said, was heavily focused on relationships, school culture, good communication and transparent decision-making.

"I am open to the idea that there are things that I can do better to serve our entire Highlands community," the superintendent said.

He said the district wants to hire a third-party company to conduct surveys. Other schools, including Lyons Township High School, already do this.

"The data will give us a good baseline, tell us how we can specifically improve," he said.

La Grange Highlands serves about 1,000 students, with an unusually low 4 percent who come from low-income families.