Including All Voices in Back to School Planning

Keeping students and staff safe from harm in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic is the number one goal of all schools and districts as they plan for the 2020-21 school year.  The next most important goal is to return as many staff and students to the school building as possible.  The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics  have developed detailed guidelines so schools can make that happen.  If for some reason schools are not able to meet these standards, they are choosing to move instruction to virtual platforms.

Both face to face and virtual settings are causing increased stress for teachers, administrators, other staff, families, and students.  In a trauma informed community, all stakeholders are given a voice in the decision-making process even if circumstances do not allow them to participate in the final decision. On the July 9^th  Better Normal session, I shared   five surveys, one for each group of stakeholders (staff, parents and families and elementary, middle, and high school students) for collecting concerns regarding all possible venues for instruction. Once school or district teams have a good understanding of the Guidelines, the surveys are distributed via Wi-Fi and the postal service. The feedback helps a district or school understand what concerns must continue to be addressed.

Receiving feedback from all constituents is critical. It is suggested that the form be turned into a google survey or another electronic document.  In this way, data is automatically collected and sorted based on each individual response.  Many families and students do not have access to Wi-Fi, computers, or devices of any kind.  Therefore, teams will need to plan to distribute and collect paper copies as well as electronic ones. 

Practicing the trauma informed principle of equity means that results need to represent all demographic groups equal to their percentages within the community.  Additional efforts to reach all constituents may mean a second round of surveys by phone in the mail.  Socially distant “home visits” to pick up completed copies may be a good idea.

Once surveys are returned, the process of aligning needs and concerns with best safety practices begins.  Critical conversations involving all stakeholders are the primary vehicle for resolving issues and creating reasonable adaptations for small groups and individuals.  When schools and districts put their efforts into listening to the voice of their people, difficult situations can be avoided, issues resolved and at minimum trust built in the school community.