Slight majority of families prefer to remain virtual, Henrico Schools survey finds

A majority of full-time Henrico County Public Schools employees may be prepared to return to the classroom grudgingly, but less than half of Henrico families are ready to send their students back to school in person, according to a school system survey whose results were made public Monday.

The school system surveyed full-time employees and all families of public school students earlier this month to gauge the choices they might make if the School Board decides to offer some form of in-person learning for the second nine-week grading period, which begins Nov. 16. The board is set to adopt a plan at its Thursday meeting after receiving a recommendation from its health committee.

Staff members were able to select more than one answer, and 75% indicated – as one of their choices – that they would return to their schools if instructed to do so.

But 55% also selected as one of their choices that they would not return and would either retire, resign or seek an accommodation or leave time. That wide gap could create uncertainty for school officials as they decide a course of action.

Many employees were unhappy that none of the options on the survey included the choice to continue teaching or working virtually without an excuse.

About 90% of the 5,030 employees surveyed responded.

Among the 64% of families who responded (representing about 34,000 of the school system’s estimated 51,000 students), a slight majority indicated that their children likely would continue learning virtually regardless of which of three in-person plans the board might approve.

The most popular in-person plan – selected by 49% of respondents – was a hybrid model during which one group of students would attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays while another group would attend Thursdays and Fridays. Students would learn from home during the other three days of the week.

In response to another proposal – a four-day model, during which students would learn independently on Wednesdays but attend school in person the other four days of the week – about 57% said their students would remain virtual while 43% said they’d attend in person.

A five-day in-person option with abbreviated schedules won the least amount of support, with just 40% of respondents saying they’d send their students, while nearly 60% said they’d keep them in virtual mode.

The highest percentage of responses among families came from the Three Chopt District, in which 75.5% of families replied. The lowest percentage – 57.2% – came from the Varina District, while the Fairfield District (58.7%) was similar. A higher percentage of families in those two districts in Eastern Henrico lack internet access.

In each of the three in-person scenarios, between 50% and 56% of respondents who said they’d likely send their children to school indicated that they’d require bus transportation for them. The others indicated that they would opt out of public transportation.

That is significant as officials consider plans for how many students may safely fit on buses.

Among employees who responded, those who work at elementary schools seemed most amenable to returning in person: 80% indicated as at least one of their answers that they would, while 43% selected at least one of five other options (indicating that they would seek leave time or an accommodation, would retire or would resign).

Conversely, high school employees seemed the most hesitant to return, with only 67% selecting as one of their answers that they would, while 73% chose at least one of the other five options.

Employees submitted 299 pages worth of comments in response to the survey, with many indicating that they grudgingly selected a return-to-school option as one of their choices.

Wrote one: “Your survey is not actually a survey, but an ultimatum; work or resign. I don't qualify for medical leave, so those are my only two options. Your health mitigation plan is faulty, with even the video you sent out showing how safe we will be with students wearing masks, had the student improperly wearing his mask. You sent out information about 6 foot distancing, yet that will not be possible in the classroom. The hypocrisy is astounding.”

Wrote another, with a sentiment echoed by a number of others: "I chose the option to return to school because I must provide for my family and I have no medical conditions."

A number of employees also said they didn't think the time to resume in-person learning was during the late fall and early winter months.

"A lot of time and effort has gone into setting up virtual learning," one wrote. "It would be foolish to throw that out the window and go back to school in the middle of an on going pandemic and in the middle of flu season."

A small number of those who left comments advocated for an in-person return.

"After assessing the students the last couple of weeks, I feel it is crucial to have the students attend all five days," one wrote. "Many teachers are eager to work with the students to strengthen skills in all areas."The School Board has indicated that it will consider the survey results and health data when making its decision Thursday. The average number of new daily COVID-19 cases in Henrico as of Oct. 18 was 27, up from about 16 on Oct. 3, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

On Oct. 15, the school system posted new job listings for the roles of permanent substitutes at the elementary, middle and high school levels, showing a tentative start date of Nov. 16. The jobs, according to the postings, would be funded by the federal CARES Act.

* * *

Our journalism is free to read, but it’s not free for us to produce. It requires time, research and analysis to provide fair, comprehensive, meaningful coverage of issues that matter to Henrico County. If you value education reporting like this, please consider a tax-deductible contribution to our Education Fund, made possible through a partnership with Facebook and the Local Media Foundation.