Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson and Craig Davidson, the district’s director of Student Services, reported to the Rochester School Committee during its December 3 Zoom meeting on preliminary findings of a survey of questions to parents and guardians geared toward helping Central Office take what Nelson called “an important first step in moving forward with the (learning) model.”
Nelson said with COVID, “every day is a new day,” and considered the survey responses a good first step.
Upon all the information shared and at the end of a question-and-comment session, Chairperson Sharon Hartley stated her anticipation of a planned or unplanned meeting of a subcommittee as necessary to take the next step in mobilizing toward getting the town’s youngest learners back in the classroom on a full-time basis.
“I know you have to be cautious about the continuing COVID-19 (pandemic), and I appreciate that very much, but I also know that our children, in order to become the learners that we want them to be and the readers that we want them to be, will benefit from our teachers face to face. And we want them back in school as fast as we can,” said Hartley, asking Nelson what the school committee can do as a next step.
Nelson acknowledged the survey result in which 78 percent of respondents confirmed their ability to transport their children to school on what are now Hybrid-Out days. Still, he said, “The guidance is the guidance,” and stopped short of considering a full return imminent.
“We’re going to put down a plan that we can articulate to the School Committee and, if we have it done prior to when our next meeting is scheduled, as I mentioned, I will not hesitate to reach out to … call a meeting and move it up because we agree with you that the sooner we can create more opportunities, that’s our plan,” said Nelson, stressing that this scenario was always in the works since August and aligns with the guidance from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Several questions were asked with graphs and charts illustrating percentage and hard-number breakdowns among Rochester’s 292 survey respondents (there are 1,200 district-wide). Parent/guardians were generally agreeable to the level of communication coming from the Central Office regarding the reopening plan.
On a five-point grading system, Synchronous and Live (Hybrid-Out) sessions were considered by 76 parents/guardians as “adequate” with “helpful,” “very helpful,” and “somewhat helpful,” divvying up most of the rest of the responses. “Not helpful” drew 22 responses.
“My child enjoys Hybrid-In days” drew a 198-voice confirmation. The Hybrid-Out workload was confirmed with the agreement of 75 percent of responses, the other 62 nearly evenly (32-30) divided between “too much” and “too little.”
With a small percentage of dissent, most parents/guardians confirmed that their children have “enough connection throughout the day” with teachers.
Only two out of 34 respondents said they disagree with the survey statement that their children are enjoying the remote learning model, and 28 of 34 considered their child’s remote-learning day workload to be adequate. Furthermore, parents/guardians confirmed in the vast majority that they agree that child has an appropriate amount of instruction and an appropriate amount of interaction with their teachers.
Based on the current metrics of COVID-19, 53.2 percent of Rochester Memorial School parents/guardians responded negatively to skipping February vacation week in favor of four remote-learning days. A change in the current school calendar would subtract those days at the end of the school year.
Almost 63 percent of Rochester Memorial School parents/guardians are in favor of increased in-person learning opportunities, provided the school building maintain at least 3 feet of social distance. The district is currently using a 6-foot minimum. Although the most positive response was also returned to the question of increased in-person opportunities, albeit without the same homeroom/classroom teacher, that number was 48 percent, while 33.6 percent were against it and 18.4 percent were undecided.
Rochester responded favorably to the transportation question, with 78.1 percent of respondents confirming the ability to transport their children to school on what are now Hybrid-Out days for the sake of more in-person learning opportunities. Nelson said ORR schools could safely fit 24 to 25 students on each of its 77-passenger buses, but state updates are anticipated.
As of December 3, Rochester Memorial School had 442 students enrolled in the hybrid learning model, 60 on full remote, and 26 others who are being home-schooled.
ORR has had 29 COVID-19 situations relating to its school buildings, but Rochester Memorial has not had a confirmed case in its building since the September 16 opening. There are four people in quarantine and some others awaiting tests after displaying COVID-like symptoms.
Nelson reported that there had been no in-school transmission in the district and noted his weekly COVID-19 dashboard is continuously updated. Despite rising rates, finding substitute teachers remains difficult, said Nelson.
Rochester Memorial School Principal Derek Medeiros credited custodial workers and other staff with getting Rochester Memorial School off to a strong start. He said parents have been cooperative in dropoff and pickup, making things run smoothly in and out of school.
In other business, the Rochester School Committee voted to approve a Tech Replacement Fee as presented by Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber. A distribution of iPads will be accompanied by a return of a signed waiver.
Barber and Facilities Director Gene Jones were at the meeting, also to discuss the revival of a solar project for Rochester Memorial School. The concept has shifted from a roof solar array to a carport solar array. The committee was asked for and agreed to submit a letter of intent authorizing Barber to seek the interconnection from Eversource.
There would be no monetary obligation on the part of the town or the school. “It’s a win-win all around,” said Jones, pointing out that the carport would be lighted and include charging stations for vehicles, aligning the project with the Green Communities initiative while at the same time lessening snow removal. Barber estimated that, while year-one savings would approximate $2,300, the project could reach up to $400,000 in savings.
The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for January 7.
Rochester School Committee
By Mick Colageo