Henrico Schools surveys leave some teachers, parents frustrated

Two surveys distributed Monday by Henrico County Public Schools officials – one for teachers and other staff members, the other for families with students – already are stirring emotions among some recipients.

The school system issued the non-binding surveys (which are open through Oct. 11) in an attempt to gauge the prevailing winds from both groups about a possible return to some level of in-person learning, which potentially could begin Nov. 16 (the second nine-week grading period).

But there’s frustration among several coordinated groups of teachers and staff members, who feel the one-question survey (which also included room for comments) they received was insulting because it asked them to select from six possible options if in-person learning resumes – choices that essentially amounted to “Yes, I’ll return to school” or “No, I’ll resign, retire, seek leave time or seek permission to teach virtually.”

Staff members were permitted to select more than one answer.

There’s also significant frustration among families who want their children to return to in-person learning. Several coordinated groups have been lobbying for months for the school system to provide at a minimum the choice of in-person learning, and they’re skeptical that their answers to this survey will be strongly considered, after the school board chose a fully virtual plan this summer for the first nine weeks against their wishes.

Some teachers feel bullied, disrespected
In online forums, teachers are expressing anger with the options, which some argue amounts to bullying by the school system. They want an option to teach virtually – without explanation – until they feel safe returning in person but fear they might ultimately have to decide between returning when they don’t feel safe doing so or giving up their jobs and paychecks.

But school officials have maintained all along that they’re merely gathering information to help the School Board make a decision about the second nine weeks at its Oct. 22 meeting – and that no recommendations or decisions have been made yet. The decision ultimately will take into account the feedback from employees and families, as well as the most updated health data related to COVID-19, they’ve said.

The staff survey asked employees to carefully consider their answers, since the information gathered would be used to help craft the plan.

Henrico High School Principal Karin Castillo-Rose told attendees of a virtual town hall meeting for that school Monday that during an in-person return to school, teachers there would be simultaneously teaching their in-person students and students who had opted to continue learning virtually. That created a wave of social media backlash from teachers and some parents.

Henrico Schools spokesman Andy Jenks told the Citizen Tuesday that such details have not yet been decided.

“While in general we feel it's too early to speculate on that as it relates to the overall approach to in-person learning in the second nine weeks, there may be some specific examples where this becomes a more detailed discussion,” he wrote in an email. “For example, there may be some specialty center courses, or, what are known as ‘singleton’ courses at the middle and high school level that may involve the idea of teaching in-person and virtual students simultaneously.”

HCPS officials are looking into various tools and models that could be used to support such a scenario, Jenks said.

“This could involve teacher assistants and additional technology, such as large-screen monitors. These and many other details will become more clear after the approach to learning in the second nine weeks is determined later this month."

At least one member of the Henrico School Board – Tuckahoe District representative Marcie Shea – is on record as opposing that type of concept. During a School Board meeting earlier this year, Shea (a former Freeman High School teacher) said that it would be asking too much of teachers to work with both groups of students at the same time.

Many teachers also are concerned that they were being asked to make an initial choice, or choices, without a clear in-person plan selection, according to Highland Springs High School history teacher Ryan Burgess, an administrator of a Facebook group advocating for a safe return to school.

“The group response is that we are very disappointed with the survey, and felt that it is not what staff and faculty deserve, that we deserve better from the county,” Burgess said. “We want to be treated with respect in regards to having our careers be valued by the county and not simply be considered expendable,” she said.

Virginia is one of a handful of states that prohibits teachers from striking and also prohibits collective bargaining efforts in education (though as of next May, they'll have the latter option, thanks to legislation passed this year by the Virginia General Assembly). Teachers who don’t feel safe returning are worried they’ll be stuck between a rock and a hard place – having to grudgingly return to their buildings sooner than they’d like, or potentially risk resignation and the loss of their salaries in order to avoid doing so.

Without the ability to negotiate as a strong union, they’re concerned that they lack leverage – unless several hundred were to threaten to resign, or choose resignation, thereby potentially making an in-person return almost impossible.

Families asked about 3 potential in-person plans
The survey for families included three potential in-person learning plans for families and students who choose to return to school; all students also have the option to remain in virtual mode for the entire school year.

Those plans are:
• four days of in-person learning each week, with Wednesdays being virtual learning days to allow for deep-cleaning of the schools and office hours for teachers;
• five days of in-person learning but on abbreviated schedules;
• a hybrid schedule, with students attending in one of two cohort groups (Mondays and Tuesdays, or Thursdays and Fridays), and all students learning virtually on Wednesdays.

Though it’s not yet clear when, or if, in-person learning might resume, the school system is making preparations now in the event the school board opts to resume it Nov. 16.

Among those steps, officials are:
• installing plexiglass barriers in main offices and other areas of schools;
• purchasing sufficient levels of PPE for employees and face-coverings for students who might show up without their own;
• installing floor stickers and signs to help maintain 6-foot distancing;
• reviewing more than 500 mechanical systems to identify any necessary changes;
• flushing air in all buildings, through continuous air operation.

Some parents have expressed concerns online that they lacked the information they need to complete the family surveys. Others are wondering aloud how low Henrico’s COVID-19 percentage positivity rate (which has been below 4% for nearly two weeks) must go before officials consider it safe enough to return students to school.

Teachers also are seeking more clarity about several topics, Burgess said, including what discretionary leave might look like, who is eligible for it, and what retirement might look like, among others.

Henrico Education Association President John Reaves told the Citizen Tuesday night that unclear terminology created questions, particularly about the use of physical space and the expectations for families, teachers and staff.

“There are a bunch of terms that we’re curious about the implications, like ‘abbreviated schedule’ or . . . ‘increased levels of in-person learning,’ he said. Teachers want details about potential class sizes, how lunch will work (considering students would be required to wear masks all day but obviously wouldn’t be able to while eating) and what the school system considers adequate ventilation, Reaves said.

Reaves hosted a virtual “Before You Take the Survey” town hall Monday night, attended by the maximum number of 120 people (with others waiting to get in) to gather educators’ questions. The Facebook group for the association has about 450 members.

Using feedback from the meeting, he sent an email with 15 to 25 questions to school system leaders, he said, and also spoke with human resources officials to ask specific questions.

“We still have faith that we’re going to get answers to our questions and hopefully a little clarity on intention and answer the survey to the best of our ability,” Reaves said, adding that he is staying mindful of the stress adding to the situation.

“I believe that there is still time for good questions to be answered with good responses,” he said, “and a way of moving forward that does [address] our main goal, which is to make each and every one of our schools better, the best that they can be, whether they’re over the web or whether they’re brick and mortar.”

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