Superintendent Ralf Swenson Being Graded Online in HS District Survey

Students rate their teachers and professors online. Now the Grossmont Union High School District is asking parents and staff to rate their superintendent.

Ralf Swenson, who replaced Robert Collins in August 2010 as head of the 11-school district, is the subject of an online survey as part of his evaluation process.

The survey is here.

“We routinely use online surveys in GUHSD to gather information,” said district spokeswoman Catherine Martin. “This online survey is one of the tools that the governing board began using in its evaluative process with the previous superintendent.”

Swenson’s contract expires in June 2014. 

More than 22,000 emails about the survey went out this week, Martin said.

“People began receiving notice of the online survey via email yesterday,” she said Friday.  “Those groups include parents, PTA leadership, GUHSD staff, and community stakeholders,” including local media.

The survey, in open-ended essay form, invites answers to 17 questions, including:

• How does Superintendent Swenson provide a clear vision/plan for strong educational leadership?
• What can be done to improve the quality of leadership at your local high school or at the district office?
• How can academic (traditional core subject area) and vocational/technical instruction be improved?
• How effective is Superintendent Swenson at maintaining effective communication with the community, parents, staff, students and board?
• How effective is Superintendent Swenson at building a strong, positive image of the Grossmont District in our community?

The survey says: “While you will be asked to comment on specific experiences, programs and events that you have personal knowledge of, the survey is anonymous and there is no way that we can personally respond to your questions, concerns or kudos.”

Responses will be seen by only select Information and technology services support personnel, confidential secretaries, the school board and those the school board members elect to share excerpts with shall see your responses, the district said.

Deadline to submit responses is Friday, Oct. 21.

More than one person from a household can take the survey from the same computer—and even return to a session over time to complete it, Martin said.

“Each person who wishes to take the survey over multiple sessions chooses their own username and password to resume with,” she said.

The survey was developed in-house and is the board’s preferred format, Martin said.

“[It’s] very similar to the one used for former Superintendent Bob Collins [who left to take a private-sector education job]. It is one tool that is part of a process that will be completed by the end of the year.”

The online survey says: 

Thank you for participating in a survey requested by the Grossmont Union High School District Governing Board as part of its ongoing efforts to assess progress and performance of its educational programs and personnel, in this case: Superintendent Ralf Swenson.  This is a normal part of its annual evaluation matrix for executive leadership in the district. 

A year ago, La Mesa Patch reported:

Ralf Swenson, hired over the summer to lead the 2,200-teacher Grossmont Union district, accepted a contract that required the same pay cut that district employees are taking this school year in the form of five furlough days.

"We wanted his salary to reflect what we had asked all employees to take," said Grossmont trustee Richard Hoy of La Mesa.

Swenson's salary dropped from $222,000 to $217,066. In addition, he receives $14,272 in benefits, including medical and life insurance, according to district records. The district's other high-ranking officials are also taking five unpaid furlough days.

Swenson, who came from the 3,800-student Nevada Joint Union High School District in Northern California, had no problems with the pay reduction.

"I believe in taking a shared-sacrifice approach during these challenging economic times," Swenson said.