Is the glass at the Natchez-Adams School District half-full or half-empty?

The proverbial test of optimism or pessimism comes into question since school district officials are trying to convince the rest of us that all things are wonderful at the district.

Natchez-Adams School Board President Tim Blalock publicized the results of a district-sponsored survey to gauge employee morale at a meeting of the Adams County Board of Supervisors this week.

Blalock contends the survey results show 95 percent of the employees seem “pretty happy.”

Members of the board of supervisors were not buying the numbers, though, because they felt the survey results were skewed because not all of the district employees took the survey.

Blalock’s reply was that enough surveys were received to suggest that the results were statistically accurate.

That’s a stretch, though, particularly because this wasn’t a broad survey of some random audience, for example female shoppers in America with children under the age of 6. No, this was a distinct and relatively small pool of potential respondents.

The smaller the pool, the more statistical errors can occur.

While we applaud the district for trying to gauge the morale of its employees, the intent seems more focused on outward “marketing” to groups such as the board of supervisors than in truly understanding how the organization’s staff actually ticks.

Rather than try and convince the world that all is good, why not simply show the world that’s true through making the district a great place to work. At the moment, based on the recent employee turnovers, several of which have resulted in litigation, we’d guess the district has a long way to go to achieve that goal.