As officials with Gloucester County Public Schools continue their planning for reopening schools in the fall along with COVID-19 prevention strategies, they are seeking additional input from families through a second survey.
In a July 3 letter to student families, school division superintendent Walter Clemons reviewed the results from last month’s survey and requested additional input via the second survey.
Clemons said the earlier survey indicated the desire for all students to return safely to school for daily, in-person instruction and recognized that employees, families and students have legitimate health-safety concerns.
He also said the survey reflected a request for reasonable sanitizing and safety procedures in schools, including reasonable distancing measures in schools, classrooms, common spaces and school buses.
In addition, Clemons said the survey indicated legitimate child care needs during periods of school closure, and a request for improved remote learning options and teacher interaction.
It also found a desire for a remote learning alternative for families who wish for their students to continue learning from home.
“It is clear that our first preference is for all of our students to be able to return safely to school each day for 100 percent in-person instruction,” said Clemons. “However, in the event that circumstances do not permit daily attendance for all students, we must ensure that we develop a reopening plan to meet the needs of our students, families and staff. In addition, any reopening plan must consider current local health data, recommendations from local health professionals, and physical distancing and gathering limitations.”
Clemons said the school officials now need more specific information from each family regarding each student, and requests parents or guardians complete a unique survey for each child. He said the survey results “will allow us to prepare as accurately as possible for both in-school and remote learning scenarios.”
Second survey now open
The second survey became available on the school division’s website Tuesday morning and will remain open until 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 13.
Those without online access are asked to contact your child’s school(s) by telephone between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays, except Friday, through July 13 to either obtain a paper copy of the survey or complete the survey via telephone with a school staff member.
Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency on March 12 due to the spread of COVID-19 and ordered all K-12 schools to close for two weeks beginning March 16. He later extended the closure through the academic year.
Students and teachers were forced to finish the school year through online learning or via paper copies of lessons for those without online access.