Return to Learn

I apologize for pushing today's blog post out as a text alert, but thought it prudent to share with you the results from the recent family survey. I realize you must be beginning to suffer from survey fatigue, but your input is critically important to us as we plan for the return of students in August. I'll also remind you to please take the time to complete the technology survey that was recently sent out. This might be the most important survey we administer this summer. 

First, thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. With 196 responses, from a statistical standpoint this would suggest reliable results. The raw data set runs 26 pages and the opinions you shared are at times as varied as the number of participants. On one hand, strong opinions exist that the entire shutdown related to COVID-19 was an overreaction, while others are firm in their resolve that we must take strong action to ensure student safety when resuming classes. As you might imagine, this means the decisions we make moving forward will not please everyone. 

One commonality exists as it relates to remote learning is that it isn't an ideal way to learn. On that point we can all agree. Beyond that point, there is a divergence of opinion as to whether or not we provided enough instruction, or in some opinions too much instruction. Many parents indicated that remote learning was too much for them to handle and balance their own careers. Along that same theme was the idea that it was very difficult for students to remain engaged and motivated to complete their school work. An added challenge was the differing platforms that were being used by classroom teachers for communication purposes. Many mused that engagement likely suffered due to the fact the learning model was voluntary. Students didn't feel they needed to do the work since it didn't count for anything. (Important side note: 87.16% of Iowa public schools completed the school year with voluntary continuous learning programs.)

While 99.5% of the respondents indicated they had internet access, technology seemed to be an additional challenge. Multiple devices on home networks tended to tax bandwidth capacity beyond it's limits from time to time, making it difficult for students to access the material they needed at the same time parents needed to work from home. Another challenge indicated by some was a lack of devices to serve the needs of everyone in the household. Additionally, the learning platforms used by teachers wasn't always uniform across grade levels, which created some frustration and difficulties for parents trying to help organize learning.

When considering what families would like to see moving forward, the most common and prevalent theme was for students to be back in classes as normal this fall. On that point we can all agree. The three greatest concerns as it relates to schools reopening include: My child being exposed to COVID-19 (47.19%); Bringing the virus home to a medically fragile or elderly family member (25.9%); childcare issues (15.3%). The top three considerations for making you feel safe for your child to return included ensuring we had personal protective equipment (59 responded this was most important); frequent sanitizing of highly touched areas (49 responded this was most important); and rounding out the top three was requiring physical distancing in classrooms (48 responded this was most important). 

Return to Learn

We share your desire for students to return to school as normal as possible this August. At this time we are planning multiple contingencies for reopening. Those plans are fluid, and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. Right now we do believe school will open on time with students on campus. Perhaps that is my optimism showing through, but it is truly what I believe. We also recognize that a lot can and will change over the course of the summer that may require us to modify our plans or take additional mitigation efforts. It is important to first understand that we are still operating under the governor's emergency proclamation. Once that expires, we expect to receive specific guidance as it relates to the reopening of our facilities. The Return to Learn plan for Hudson consists of three basic parts. 

Onsite Learning: This is 'normal school', with all students in attendance. Needless to say, this is the preferred option for everyone! We are being optimistic in our planning and assume we will reopen as normal for the start of the school year. However, as a first step this does require the governor to lift her emergency orders and allow schools to reopen. Right now, all our buildings remain closed through June 30th. July 1st is when we anticipate reopening the remainder of our facilities for student activities. We expect to receive guidance on how that process is to unfold. It is safe to assume we will need to institute some mitigation efforts as part of our reopening. What those mitigation efforts include continues to be discussed and debated. There are a few things that are easy: hand sanitizing stations for each classroom have been ordered and should be here and installed by the time school starts. We can also beef up our cleaning procedures, disinfect school buses, etc. Checking temperatures of students and quickly isolating those with a fever; limiting visitors to the buildings: all of these mitigation efforts are relatively easy to implement. However, when it comes to requiring face masks, students eating lunch in their classrooms, how we move students from one place to another: those movements require much more thought and deliberation. It was very evident from the survey we sent out that there are very strong feelings on both sides of this issue and how we should proceed. Further, it is a bit premature to determine what mitigation is necessary.

Hybrid Learning: We are also planning for the possibility that we may reopen our buildings, but must do so in a carefully orchestrated manner with fewer students. The options for this model of learning are numerous and infinite. Think about how many businesses in Iowa are currently being allowed to operate: with only 50% capacity. In our world, this might mean certain grade spans of students are attending classes here in the building while other grade spans are attending remotely. It could also include all students attending part of the week and then buildings being closed for more robust cleaning. Another way we are thinking about hybrid learning is for students that have underlying medical conditions where it may simply be in their best interest to attend school virtually while their classmates attend in person. Multiple models are being considered daily, but this work is incredibly complex and the answers don't come easy. 

Required Virtual Learning: This spring schools in Iowa had to change the way teaching and learning occurred overnight. We went from brick and mortar classrooms with students and teachers actively engaged in onsite learning to virtual learning with no training for our teachers on how to make such a shift. This summer, our teachers are sharpening their skills in this type of learning environment and we will be better prepared because of these efforts. The fact is, we must be ready to launch remote and virtual learning with little to no warning. If this does happen, our model of continuous learning will be required. Attendance will be taken, grades and credit will be awarded, and teachers will be delivering instruction. Additionally, our entire fleet of computers has been replaced this summer and configured to work outside the school network. Our plan will include the deployment all the devices in grades 3-12 (which would be enough for every student in that span to have their own device). For grades K-2, we also believe that we have enough devices that we can probably get them to families that need them. In the feedback you provided us, you indicated the volume of emails and that uniformity of platform was at times overwhelming and perhaps a bit frustrating. To solve that, we will utilize and require teachers in grades K-2 to use SeeSaw, 3-6 will use Google Classroom, and 7-12 will use Canvas. While there is no doubt our remote program will be light years ahead of what it was this spring, we realize that nothing can replace the value of fact to face instruction. Further, it would be a fools errand to attempt (and not the goal) to replicate the regular classroom experience in a virtual setting. 

If  you have any questions or concerns that I can address, please reach out. While we are all anxious for a quick return to normal, it is important we take the time to make the right decisions as opposed to the quick decision. In education we live in a world of proactive thinking and detailed planning with analysis. Unfortunately because the situation continues to evolve, it requires us to be more cautious and deliberate in how we move forward.