BSD must engage with the community
Why?
While we are very appreciative of what BSD has done for remote learning and understand the huge challenges it faces, we believe more can be done to improve communication both ways with the community.
The community has no visibility on the criteria that the Bellevue School District will use to reopen. The Bellevue School District must publish a detailed hybrid model rollout plan for all K-12 schools.
Regular meetings with community stakeholders would enable the school district to listen to the community expectations and provide school-opening status report on a regular basis.
While a majority of students wanted to return in a hybrid model in September, this objective has not been met by the Bellevue School District.
Facts
73.3% of Bellevue families intended to enroll in a hybrid model in September
The Bellevue School District has done a survey during the Summer to understand students' intent about school in September. Of those who responded, 73.3% have indicated an intent to return to school in a hybrid model. This represents more than 50% of all students! [1]
Read more about it:
[1] https://youtu.be/KJOaloWyZ5U?t=1880 (the BSD has removed the link to the survey, but the information is still available in this video)
Approx. 2/3 of certified educators were ready to return in person in September
From the same survey done by the Bellevue School District, approximately 2/3 of certified educators (i.e. teachers) were ready to return to school in person, and approximately 3/4 of all staff! [2]
Read more about it:
[2] https://youtu.be/KJOaloWyZ5U?t=1954 (the BSD has removed the link to the survey, but the information is still available in this video)
For many families, the academic, physical and mental upsides associated with returning children to schools outweighs the risks
As concluded by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the academic, physical and mental upsides associated with returning children to schools outweighs the risks [3]. We have already learned to protect the most vulnerable, seniors and those with underlying conditions, from COVID-19, and the time has come to put school first and foremost. The failure to do right by our young cannot be allowed to continue.
Read more about it:
[3] https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/ 7294