Earlier this month, the Averill Park Central School District put together a survey for community stakeholders, which provided them with an opportunity to give feedback on the 2020-21 school year, as well as list what is most important to them for the upcoming year.
In total, 491 individuals responded to the survey, giving the District a community snapshot to help guide reopening in the fall of 2021.
Question one asked what the District did well over the past year while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the responses, 88.2% of people stated that the District followed COVID-19 protocols; 86.6% felt the District provided a safe learning environment, 85.3% stated the District communicated well; 75.8% said the District provided adequate technology for online learning; and 76.8 % said the District adjusted well to changing guidelines.
Stakeholders were asked what the District could do better. Answers included provide adequate technology for online learning (18.7%); adjust to changing guidelines (18.1%); communication (15.1%); provide a safe learning environment (4.1%); and follow COVID-19 protocols (3.3%).
For the upcoming 2021-22 school year, the District asked a series of questions and community members ranked them on an escalating scale of 1-5, 1 being least important and 5 being most important.
The first question asked how important full in-person learning is to the individual. In total, 472 people ranked this question a 3 or above with 400 of them marking down a score of 5 (most important).
The second question asked about the return to in-person events such as concerts, assemblies, etc. Individuals who ranked the question 3 or higher totaled 450.
When asked about the District providing a hybrid learning environment next year, 439 responders ranked this question 3 or lower with 242 individuals marking 1 (least important).
Should the District follow COVID-19 safety protocols during the 2021-22 school year? Responders were split with 265 marking above 3 and 98 placing below 3. 128 people marked 3 (Neutral).
More than four hundred people stated that students’ social and emotional well-being was most important (413).
A virtual learning option ranked low with 432 marking 3 or lower – 262 of which recorded a 1 (least important).
Thank you to those who responded to this community-wide survey. The District is currently awaiting guidance from the New York State Department of Health regarding the 2021-22 school year. The District will refer to this data as it builds a plan for the upcoming school year.