WARDEN — Warden School District patrons and staff will be asked to register their opinions of the district's operations through a survey, with further details to be announced. The Warden School Board's plans to conduct the survey were announced at the end of a confused and sometimes tense public comment period at the end of the regular board meeting Thursday.

Board members had appeared to agree to a community meeting near the end of the May 10 board meeting. But there was no follow-up information at the May 24 meeting, until the topic came up during the public comment session.

About 40 district patrons and teachers attended the meeting, and a parent asked about the possible community gathering. “We're looking at doing a survey for the community and for the teachers,” said board member Doug Skone. Later, board member Bryce Cox said the survey would go to all staff. “I think that's the next step,” Skone said.

District patrons asked some questions about teacher turnover during the May 10 meeting and in other communications to district officials and board members. “So far, the only questions you have are inside bargaining,” and would have to be addressed there, Skone said.

Earlier in the meeting district superintendent David LaBounty said the district is about to begin negotiations on a new master agreement with the Warden Education Association. Warden will be one of the first districts to negotiate a new contract after substantial changes to teacher compensation rules enacted during the 2018 legislative session.

Skone was talking to district patron Lisa Sniffen, who submitted a request for further information during the board meeting. She asked about substitutes, especially long-term subs, and about their qualifications. She also asked how district officials keep track of teacher movement and if there is a plan, either in place or under preparation, to address teacher retention.

Sniffen said what she saw as problems that needed to be addressed went beyond salary, in her opinion.

Skone said that was why a survey would be the next step. “There's a lot of people out there - I'm glad this amount of people come (to board meetings), but what we want to have is a survey that goes out to everybody. Everybody can respond.” An anonymous survey would also address concerns expressed during the school board meeting about possible retaliation, Skone said.

LaBounty said there are companies that prepare and conduct that kind of survey, but that district officials need to find a company first. That will require proposals, and LaBounty said he didn't know how long that process would take, or how much it might cost. He said he hoped to have information for the board by the next meeting, scheduled for June 14.

Bargaining sessions with the district's unions might be open to district patrons. “The board has asked me to look into providing an open bargaining session for the public,” LaBounty said. “It has to go through some legal steps first,” and the district's attorneys are working on a proposed policy, which would then be reviewed by the school board. “What that would do, if we get that far, we would hold our bargaining session this year for the public to attend and watch,” LaBounty said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.