Palliser School Board moves forward with recommendations after review finds climate not psychologically healthy for employees

The Palliser School Board is moving forward with 21 recommendations after an independent review of the division found a culture and climate detrimental to the psychological health of its employees.

The independent review has been accepted by the board and board chair Robert Strauss said the focus now is to move forward.

“The board has decided that we would seek the assistance of a facilitator for some of the recommendations, of the more complex ones,” he said.

The report stems back almost a year ago, when former Palliser employee Michelle Gibb filed a civil lawsuit against superintendent Kevin Gietz.

The review found the culture and climate at the Lethbridge school board was not psychologically healthy for employees. It went on to expose perceptions of micromanagement and ineffective complaint handling.

READ MORE: Palliser Regional Schools report finds climate not psychologically healthy for employees

The board hopes to address all 21 recommendations before the next school board election, scheduled for October 2017.

“If we are not able to complete all 21, certainly we would like to have them addressed and well on their way. It’s clearly our intent to leave our next board with a very solid foundation,”  Strauss said.

They have already started to tackle some of the recommendations.

“Things as simple as looking at the format of the agenda and for meetings, how to do that and maybe how to involve more public consultation,” he said.

READ MORE: Palliser Schools superintendent back on paid leave

Part of that public consultation is by creating an online tracker, so the public can see monthly progress they have made on the recommendations.  There will also be a place for public input.

“We will do this as a team. The organizations will move forward with the public, from parents and from the staff,”  Strauss said.

Strauss declined to comment on Gietz’s future with the division or when a decision in his employment will be made.