District Seeks Parent Input on the Return to School 2020-21
We need parent voices!
The School District of University City released the first of four parent surveys on Monday, June 8, 2020 to help the District in its ongoing development of a plan for students to safely return to the 2020-21 school year amid COVID-19 health concerns. All parents of children rising into Kindergarten through 12th grade are strongly encouraged to complete the survey.
The first survey asks District parents to provide feedback about bussing, distance learning and a split schedule model for classroom instruction. Future surveys to be emailed to parents during June and early July will focus on:
- Parent perceptions of safety and health
- Supports to help families
- Experience with Distance Learning in the spring
"Asking our parents about their concerns and their preferences and deeply listening to their responses is critical to developing an optimal and equitable plan that is safe but also embraces our three pillars of humanizng, personalizing and problematizing learning," said Superintendent Sharonica Hardin-Bartley.
Hardin-Bartley will email links to all future surveys. Parents may also contact communications@ucityschools.org to receive an email link to past and the most current parent surveys.
The District has been in intensive planning since early April regarding the safe re-entry of students for the new school year. Under the motto of Health of a Lion, the District is creating an agile plan that is not only safe, but offers options for families and embraces equity, social-emotional support, rigorous learning and innovation. A full plan will be released to the community by the end of July.
Currently, the planning process includes:
- A Roadmap to re-entry committee consisting of administrative leaders, staff and faculty with subcommitties focusing on governance and communication, wellness, curriculum and instruction, facilities, operations and finance.
- A Re-Entry advisory committee composed of 29 members that include parents, staff, a board member and members of the community in the fields of medicine, social work, communications and more.
- Superintendent and principals participation in regional, national and international education workgroups regarding COVID-19.
- Intensive partnership with local and national health agencies including the St. Louis County Health Department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Formal consultation with other Districts around the country on best practices.
For more information or for help with the survey, contact communications@ucityschools.org.