Eckstein PTSA in-person school survey results

Thank you to everyone who responded to our in-person school survey. We received 448 responses! Of these 72% were very likely or likely to return to school buildings part time, and 65% full time. These numbers were slightly lower when schedule or teacher changes were considered. About 16-21% of respondents were unlikely or very unlikely to return to school under any of these conditions. We also found that 44% of 88 special education families who are not currently receiving in-person services feel that it is important or very important that they receive those services. Lastly, the majority of families indicated that they are not receiving enough information from the district about plans and procedures for a return to buildings. We also read all of your thoughtful comments! From these it is clear that many of you want to see teachers vaccinated ASAP, need more information from the district to make up your minds about whether to send your children back into buildings, and are concerned that the district doesn’t have a clear plan to reopen buildings now or in the fall. Download the complete survey results here.

We will now take this information to the School Board and District leadership, and continue to advocate on your behalf for a safe return to buildings. Continue on to read the letter the Eckstein and Roosevelt PTSAs have sent to SPS leadership.

​Dear Superintendent Juneau and School Board Members,

Our school families are concerned that there is no comprehensive plan for in-person school for ALL interested students. Many school districts across the state and country have already reopened with the proper precautions and without causing significant viral spread. And, at some point this calendar year, once COVID transmission rates are in line with Washington State Department of Health guidelines, it will be time to reopen school buildings to everyone who is ready to go back.

The demand for in-person services is real and, at least at Roosevelt and Eckstein, widespread. Our PTSAs recently surveyed families about in-person instruction. We found that 73% of 1,043 respondents want to bring their children back to school in-person when Washington State Department of Health guidelines allow, and 38% of 170 special education families who haven’t yet received in-person services say it is important for their children to receive in-person services. Only 24% of families say they are receiving enough information from the district about plans and procedures for a return to buildings. Many commented that they are concerned that the district doesn’t have a clear plan for re-opening in the fall. Attached are the combined results of the surveys, as well as results separated by school.

Based on our surveys, we would like to see the following actions:

1. Detailed metrics and timelines for school reopening this school year and in the fall.
2. Detailed information about the status and progress of school building ventilation, classroom set ups and school traffic patterns to maintain social distancing, COVID testing for staff, and PPE availability for staff. We would appreciate this information by building.
3. Detailed information about protocols for health attestations, isolation of symptomatic students/staff, and the ramifications of positive COVID cases.
4. Descriptions of the planned models for providing instruction by grade year (hybrid, cohort, etc.), and of how class schedules will change as a result.
5. Surveys of ALL families and staff to determine their requirements for, and interest in, in-person instruction, after providing the information in items 1-4.
6. Faster approval and initiation of in-person special education services.
7. Detailed plans for programming and support for those families who choose to continue with online instruction, including for school year 2021/22.

Although district-wide communications with the above information will be necessary, we feel that it would also be helpful if some of the communications come to parents through school principals. That way, the information would be tailored to the school community, which differs significantly in age/grade, schedule, and physical state/capacity from building to building. We look forward to hearing about your plans soon.

Sincerely,
Eckstein Middle School PTSA Board
Roosevelt High School PTSA Board
Please direct responses and questions to Eckstein MS PTSA Vice President and Roosevelt HS PTSA Advocacy Chair Natalya Yudkovsky.

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