The annual Pinellas climate survey of district staff will be administered earlier in the school year and be tied to evaluations for principals and assistant principals, according to changes outlined by interim superintendent John Stewart.

"How your staff views you ... is very important," Stewart told The Gradebook. "Whether it's 10 percent or 5 percent (or some other figure) we haven't determined. But it will be a piece" of the evaluation.

Stewart and board members discussed the changes at Tuesday's workshop. The climate surveys have been an issue for the last two years because they were off-again, on-again under former superintendent Julie Janssen.

But some board members and others have also had concerns that the results weren't, in their view, put to meaningful use. The responses often offer a glimpse into whether relations are good or tense between a school's staff and its leadership.

"It's frustrating to people when they feel like it's been ignored," said board member Janet Clark. "That's the big thing to me."

Stuart said the plan is for the survey to be administered in January.