By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM —Potsdam Central School students feel safe, believe teachers expect them to do their best, and are pleased with the availability of sports, clubs and other after-school activities, according to a recent survey.

However, a portion of students worry about bullying and substance abuse, survey results say.

Students, parents, and staff took the School Climate Survey and Superintendent Joann Chambers says that she is “pleased overall with the results.”

“We want to quantify the climate in a building,” she said. “Students learn best when the are in a safe, positive and supportive learning environment.”

The more than 50 questions were adopted from a U.S. Department of Education survey. This is the first year of the survey.

PCS staff and 195 parents as well as all fifth through twelfth grade students took the survey that will help school officials “identify areas to work on,” she said.

The school was praised in all three surveys for its clean appearance and pleasant atmosphere.

Another point of interest to Chambers was how well staff said they treated each other and how race, sexuality, cultural backgrounds and religion differences are seen as non-issues among staff.

The school is already working on addressing issues at each school level, said Chambers.

“We are not hiding it,” said Chambers about bullying and substance abuse concerns stemming from the survey. “We want to follow through with the process and talk about it with people in each building.”

Chambers said when a student on school property is suspected of drug use or possession, drinking, or breaking a law, school officials are required to contact law enforcement. Depending on circumstances, a suspension is possible.

The school will try to connect a student with counseling services if appropriate, she said.

To help combat and prevent bullying, elementary students participate in bucket-filling, which promotes being kind to their peers.

“We try to start introducing them when they are young to treat each other well and the negative ramifications if they don't,” she said.

In the middle school, counselors talk with students about bullying preventative measures.

Depending on the circumstances of a bullying incident, a verbal warning may be issued followed by punishment. “We will try to get to the root of the problem,” she said.

Middle School Results

At A.A. Kingston, students praised the school for safety, the lack of weapons at school and the choices to be involved in sports, clubs and other after-school activities. Concerns included students fighting a lot, bathroom cleanliness and the availability of teachers to speak with them when they need them.

Teachers were happy with safety as well as the encouragement for students to get engaged in challenging courses and extra-curricular activities. Teachers said they believe the district lacks programs to address student substance abuse and bullying.

Middle school parents were pleased with the school’s high expectations for students and the atmosphere of the school. Issues at for parents were bullying and a lack of communication from the school when a student does something positive.

For middle school survey results, visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwocShDA9sgdZi1Ib3dtRVNUWGs/view.

High School Results

At the high school, students again praised teacher expectations, an overall feeling of safety and the opportunities for sports, clubs and other school activities outside of class. Negatives related to drugs and alcohol, students talking about feelings with others, and social media rumors and lies.

Parents were pleased with measures to ensure safety, emergency notification policies and students being urged to attend every day. Parents showed concern with the district not applying rules equally to all students and not hearing positive news when a child has done something good.

Teachers expressed concerns about fair discipline, equal treatment based on whether the parents of a student are rich or poor, and programs that address substance abuse. Teachers said PCS provides updated and adequate equipment to work with while teaching and that safety and work conditions are positive.

For high school survey results, visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwocShDA9sgddjNFOWdabS1Ka3M/view.

Elementary School Results

Some items that concerned elementary teachers were efforts to provide students strategies to manage stress levels, bullying, a lack of student opportunity for decision making, and poor heating, cooling and lighting issues. A few positives for elementary teachers were respectful coworkers, school safety, and school-to-parent communication efforts.

Parents said they felt comfortable talking with school officials about their child and that teachers make themselves readily available for communication. Concerns included students not having enough healthy food choices and bullying.

To view results for the elementary school, visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwocShDA9sgdbVAxaENJbURNSk0/view.

“One thing that was enlightening to me was that much of our staff didn’t know that we have a plan for all possible emergencies,” said Chambers.

All staff has been made aware of the procedures now, she said.