Despite most parents and students giving high marks to the COVID-19 hybrid learning plan at Winnetka School District 36, many of the district’s teachers are less enthusiastic about several aspects of the school year, according to a recent survey.
The survey, which gauged the opinions of 918 parents, 927 students and 260 staff members in mid-December, found that while nearly 57% of parents described the district’s management of the school year during the pandemic as “very successful,” only 28% staff members felt the same way.
Parents were also far more enthusiastic in regards to their overall comfort level with the district’s health and safety protocols for students attending school in-person, with 83% of parents saying they felt “very comfortable,” compared with just around 30% of the district’s staff.
When it comes to perceived student engagement with the in-person portion of the school day, 61% of parents said their students were “very engaged,” but just 33% of students and 43% of staff agreed with that sentiment.
Still, the three groups found some common ground, with just 20% of students and parents, and 21% of staff members, describing student engagement with the remote, synchronous arts portion of the school day as “very engaged.”
The survey also indicated a majority of the district’s staff members — 64% — found their workloads less manageable compared to a typical school year, with 68% saying they did not have sufficient planning time to fulfill their necessary duties.
In a Jan. 15 parent letter, District 36 Superintendent Trisha Kocanda commended students as they concluded their post-winter break remote learning transition period, which was intended to put some space between holiday travel and gatherings and the resumption of in-person, hybrid instruction at the district’s five schools.
“While each student responds differently to remote learning, we are very proud of their adaptability, effort, and focus,” Kocanda said, adding: “We can’t wait to welcome them back to campus on Tuesday.”
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