Wake teachers leery of returning to school buildings during coronavirus pandemic
Many Wake County teachers are echoing families in saying they’re uncomfortable with returning to schools this fall out of fear of the coronavirus pandemic.
The majority of the 10,686 school-based employees who took a Wake County school system survey said they’d be uncomfortable with options that require them to return to school campuses. The only options that a majority said they’d be comfortable with are ones in which online instruction is used either full or part-time.
The survey results shared Tuesday with school board members show another challenge school leaders will have drawing up plans for reopening schools this fall.
“This data also communicates a level of discomfort from our employees heading into the school year, regardless of the plan,” said A.J. Muttillo, Wake’s assistant superintendent for human resources. “We have to be cognizant of that to support the needs of our staff regardless of the plan that we end up implementing.”
The employee survey results mirror findings from a survey that found only 43% of Wake parents are comfortable with going back on campus this fall.
School districts working on 3 reopening plans
School districts and charter schools across North Carolina are working on plans for how to reopen schools after having been closed since mid-March to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The state Department of Health and Human Services released health guidance for reopening schools. The State Board of Education adopted the state Department of Public Instruction’s strategies for using the health guidance.
Schools are being asked to develop three reopening plans, ranging from using minimal to moderate social distancing to only offering online learning.
Gov. Roy Cooper will decide by July 1 which plan level should be used. School districts can use a more restrictive plan but not a less restrictive one.
If statewide COVID-19 metrics stabilize and improve, schools would reopen under Plan A with “minimal social distancing” and all students would be on campus at the same time. Social distancing would only be required where individuals may congregate, such as hallways, reception areas, cafeterias, restrooms and lockers.
Schools would be required to do daily symptom screening and temperature checks of all students, staff and visitors who enter schools and buses.
Parents weigh in on alternate-day school options
If the COVID-19 metrics don’t improve, more stringent requirements with “moderate social distancing” would be used in Plan B. Schools and buses would be required to operate at 50% capacity and students maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
Options to reduce capacity could include sending students to schools on alternating days or weeks.
Several board members said parents who’ve attended virtual meetings have said that if alternate scheduling is used, they’d prefer their children go to classes for two to four weeks at a time. They said it would provide more consistency than going to school every other day.
“There also seemed to be support for a two-track system: two weeks on, two weeks off to mirror the exposure to the illness with how COVID is presenting itself with a two-week incubation period so we could rotate folks at home,” said school board member Christine Kushner.
If the metrics worsen, Plan C would have schools continue using remote learning only.
Teachers leery of returning to schools
The district’s survey found lack of support among employees for variations of Plan A. Muttillo said 63% of teachers and 65% of instructional assistants took the survey.
If schools reopen with only minor adjustments, such as increased cleanings and hand washings, 66% of employees said they’d be uncomfortable returning.
Even if schools reopen with changes such as social distancing and daily temperature checks, 58% of employees said they’d be uncomfortable.
Employee support sharply improved under options for Plan B and Plan C.
If schools reopen on reduced capacity with a mix of in-person and online learning, 65% of staff said they would be comfortable returning.
If next school year starts with remote learning with decisions about returning to campus coming later, 72% of staff said they’d be comfortable.
The results mirror how only 28% of staff say they want to return to work only in school buildings. Of the rest, 43% want a mix of in-person and remote learning and 29% want remote learning only next school year.
“Our employees are divided in terms of their preference for potential options,” Muttillo said.
Wake is dealing with how 51% of the employees who took the survey said they’re at high risk of COVID-19 or live with or care for someone who is at high risk of contracting the virus.
The district is working on how to support those employees as well as preparing for a potentially large enough number of absences this fall.
“Some of this seems to be somewhat of a Catch-22,” said school board member Bill Fletcher. “How many teachers will come to the building could tell us how many students we can have in the building.
“At the same time, how many students come to the building will tell us how many teachers we need in the building.”
