School Re-Entry Proposal and Survey Results

By SFPS

Santa Fe Public Schools announced the over-all results of surveys distributed to students, parents, school-site staff and district staff regarding the district’s re-entry to school on August 17th. These surveys asked respondents to choose between three models provided by the NM Public Education Department which included:  a full re-entry of face to face instruction,  to a full remote learning, and a hybrid model that includes elements of both of the other two options. The survey also asked faculty and staff to rate issues that were of concern to them as well as solicited comments from all stakeholder groups.

 

The participation rate exceeded our expectations.  We recognize that the survey results represented a snapshot in time, and there will be a need to conduct shorter surveys in the near future. Response rates were as follows:  Faculty/Staff – 74% response, parents/families –46% and students at 28%. It is noteworthy that our parents/families responses were pretty much split equally between all three models as a first preference. While faculty/staff and district staff preferred remote; and students preferred full re-entry.

 

We would like to take a moment to thank the students, parents/families,and faculty/staff for their diligence and care in completing these surveys. Their concerns, opinions and responses have provided us tremendous insight into the complexities of the matter at hand and the variation in opinions and concerns.

 

We are jointly developing a proposal that will be presented to the board of education at a special board meeting on Thursday, July 16th.  At that time the full survey results, disaggregated by subgroup and school will be presented to the Board of Education and made available to the public.

 

As we’ve worked together it is clear that we all want to bring our students back to school, we know it’s the best place for our students.  Equally as important is the need to balance the desire to return to school  with ensuring the safety and health of all concerned. Health and safety will be at the forefront of all recommendations and decision making.  In the meantime, the District has been developing an improved remote learning program that can be implemented in either a full remote or hybrid model environment.  We are confident that SFPS is ready and able to respond to the changing pandemic conditions in our county.