Survey Says: Radnor Twp. Parents Want Cautious Return To School

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA — More than 1,350 parents and community members as well as 220 school staff answered a survey about options for re-opening Radnor Township schools. Results showed most parents want students back in school, but with health precautions in place to address the coronavirus pandemic. Parents and school staff also expressed concern for the mental well being of kids.

"Parents want the students back in front of teachers, back with their friends," said Michael Petitti Communications Director for Radnor Township School District, summarizing the survey's findings. In the district's survey, 81 percent indicated as their first or second choice that students physically return to school, "with some precautionary measures, such as some amount of social distancing, intense cleaning, and temperature check protocols for students and staff," the district reported.

The survey included questions about how online learning worked during the pandemic school closing in spring, and what is might be successful for re-opening in fall 2020. Overall, 52 percent of parents responded saying they would be willing to send their children back to school, even if a vaccine for coronavirus is not yet developed, as long as the school is taking precautionary measures. Seventy-three percent said they were comfortable with their child wearing a mask in school.

Petitti said twice-weekly task force meetings that include parents, staff, and administration will continue in July. Then, a recommendation for re-opening will be presented at the July 28 school board business meeting.

Pennsylvania's requirements for re-opening schools, released June 3, include a list of conditions for resuming in-person instruction. With the state in the green phase, district re-opening plans must identify a pandemic coordinator or team to lead response efforts. High-risk children and staff must be protected in the plan, and local district plans need to include processes for monitoring students and staff for symptoms.

Forty-nine percent of respondents selected as their first or second choice that a return to school be "as normal as possible, but to include additional cleaning and encouraging students to wash their hands, and other healthy habits," the school district's summary said.

Another 19 percent of survey respondents, though, said their first or second choice is for RTSD to "provide instruction online until there is a vaccine." Petitti said this is something that may continue to be discussed in task force meetings. He emphasized the findings that both parents and teachers are concerned with the loss of the social aspects of education. "Kids want to be with their friends. Sports and clubs are really important to them," he said. In the survey, 90 percent of school staff agreed or strongly agreed that student mental health is a concern in the present situation.

Of staff members who responded to a separate survey, 68 percent indicated they want to see strict social distancing and as many precautionary measures as possible.

The survey results, among others, were shared at the July 7 introductory meeting of the Reopening Radnor Task Force, via Zoom. The purpose of the task force is to provide feedback and guidance to district administration, which will make its recommendation based on the work of the task force on July 28, to the Radnor Township School Board.

The task force includes volunteer parents and other community members as well as school staff members (click here to view all members).

Among the survey results discussed at the July 7 Task Force meeting were:
Parents and Community Members Survey:

• Online Learning Overall: 48 percent, very satisfied or satisfied
• Communication With My Child's Teacher: 68 percent, very satisfied or satisfied
• My Child's Engagement with Learning: 46 percent, very satisfied or satisfied
• Prefer Recorded Video Lessons or Live Video Lessons on a Schedule?: 61 percent, a combination of live and recorded lessons
• Concerned About Child's Mental Health?: 64 percent, strongly agree or agree
• Feelings About Sending Child Back to School in the Fall if No Vaccine?: 75 percent, I would be willing to send my child to school if precautionary measures are in place
• Comfortable with Child Wearing a Mask in School?: 73 percent, Yes
• Permit school staff to take child's temperature upon school entry if required: 62 percent, Yes

Staff Members Survey:

• Concerned About Students' Mental Health?: 90 percent, strongly agree or agree
• Feelings About Sending Student Back to School in the Fall if No Vaccine?: 52 percent, I would be willing to send my child to school if precautionary measures are in place
• Comfortable with Wearing a Mask in School Building?: 56 percent, Yes.