Twenty-three percent of Albert Lea Area Schools teachers are personally extremely supportive of a proposed adjusted calendar, and 24 percent are educationally extremely supportive.

Forty-two percent of teachers said they felt very safe in their teaching environments. Three percent don’t feel safe at all.

A survey of teaching staff in the Albert Lea Area Schools asked these questions about a proposal to extend the school calendar and take more in-year breaks for the sake of preventing summer learning loss. Subjects of personal safety, resources and achievement were also asked.

Jim Quiram, director of technology and human resources at Albert Lea Area Schools, presented some results of the survey, given May 30, at the school board meeting Monday.

Two of these questions asked about the proposed calendar that the school board has been mulling for some time.

The first question asked the teachers of their perspective of the proposed calendar from an educational standpoint. While most teachers were supportive, three percent were extremely against the calendar. Quiram said that all of the teachers that were extremely against the calendar were all located in the same building.

The largest percentage was a neutral stance, which held 32 percent of the results.

The second question was similar, but asked of the teachers’ personal perspective of the proposed calendar. Again, the neutral stance had the highest percentage at 33 percent. Seven percent were extremely against.

School board member Jeshua Erickson said he appreciated that the two questions were asked, as he said a personal perspective can differ from a educational perspective.

Superintendent Mike Funk said since 20 to 25 percent of Albert Lea Area Schools staff don’t live in Albert Lea, that may contribute to the high percentage of neutral votes.

There were other questions asked, such as a question that asked how safe teachers felt teaching at their respective schools. Most teachers said they felt safe in their teaching environment.

However, three percent, which equals six people, said they felt not at all safe at their schools. These results came out of two buildings, Quiram said. The two sites were not stated.

School board member Mark Ciota said he was “bothered” by this number.

Quiram said that both of the buildings where that result came from have self-contained classrooms, which could contribute to the number.

Other questions asked included how easy it was to get the resources needed to teach, which the highest percentage was 38 percent for very easy; how reasonable the expectations for student achievement are, which the highest percentage was 43 percent for very reasonable and overall satisfaction with teaching experience, which the highest percentage was 37 percent for moderately satisfied.

Quiram said there were comment sections for each question, but the comments have not been fully read through yet. Funk said that Quiram was planning on presenting this information later, but he urged Quiram to present it Monday.

More information about this survey should become available after the comments have been read and organized.

In other action, the school board unanimously voted to terminate a non-licensed employee during the meeting. The employee’s name and reason for termination have not been released as of press time. More information will be available after the name and reason for termination have been released.