NEW IBERIA, La. — The Iberia Parish School Board sent online surveys to parents including a Family Technology Survey on May 4 and a parent survey on June 24 asking how they feel about their children returning to school this fall after schools were closed in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to IPSB, the Re-Opening for Parents Survey received 6,180 responses from parents. This survey showed that a slight majority of parents, or about 56%, preferred a blended model with groups of students attending school with face-to-face teachers for part of the week and learning from home for the rest of the week over a complete at-home distance learning where students would work from home on a computer.
The survey also showed a majority of parents, or about 64%, are interested in a district-provided Virtual School Model that allows your child to stay home full time and attend school online if students were allowed to return to school either normally, or on a Blended Learning Model.
Parents were also asked if their child currently rides a school bus and at what time. A slight majority of nearly 56% said that their child does ride a school bus with 81% saying that their children ride a bus both in the morning and in the afternoon.
And about 59% of parents said their family would be willing to voluntarily provide transportation instead of riding the bus if there are restrictions imposed on bus operations due to group sizes or social distancing requirements.
About 59% of parents said they would be interested in picking up meals for the days their children would remain at home.
According to Iberia Parish School District Assistant Superintendent Heath Hulin, the results of the surveys were used to come up with options for parents as well as the tentative plan for reopening schools that was released after a special meeting of the school board on July 8.
Hulin says that plan is now what they are using moving forward with the upcoming school year.
“This is how we’re planning on moving forward as of now,” said Hulin, adding that the plan could change in the future depending on guidance from the state.
That plan involves middle and high school students going to an alternating weekly schedule of virtual learning and in-school instruction, while elementary students will receive in-person instruction everyday while remaining in static groups.
You can read more about that plan here.
The school board also moved its start date for the upcoming school year from Aug. 7 to Aug. 17.
According to IPSB, the Re-Opening for Parents Survey received 6,180 responses from parents.
Here are the questions asked on the survey and a summary of the responses.
Q: If all students are not allowed to return to school due to state guidelines enforcing maximum group sizes and social distancing, which school opening option would you favor? (6,180 responses)
- 56.4% - Full At-Home Distance Learning - Students work from home every day on computer-based lessons and graded assignments with the assistance of teachers
- 43.6% - Hybrid (Blended) Model Learning – Groups of students attend school face-to-face with teachers for part of the week and work from home on computer
Q: If students are allowed to return to school either normally, or on a Blended Learning Model, would you be interested in a district-provided Virtual School Model that allows your child to stay home full time and attend school online? (6,180 responses)
- 63.6% - Yes
- 36.4% - No
Q: How many children in your household are enrolled in Iberia Parish Schools? (6,180 responses)
- 45.4% - 1
- 35.3% - 2
- 13.4% - 3
Q: In which grades are your children enrolled? (Select all that apply. 6,180 responses)
- Kindergarten - 1124 (18.2%)
- 1st Grade - 797 (12.9%)
- 2nd Grade - 813 (13.2%)
- 3rd Grade - 800 (12.9%)
- 4th Grade - 761 (12.3%)
- 5th Grade - 760 (12.3%)
- 6th Grade - 921 (14.9%)
- 7th Grade - 800 (12.9%)
- 8th Grade - 886 (14.3%)
- 9th Grade - 753 (12.2%)
- 10th Grade - 743 (12%)
- 11th Grade - 799 (12.9%)
- 12th Grade - 794 (12.8%)
Q: Which schools do your children attend? Select all that apply. (6,180 responses)
- Alternative Center for Education - 22 (0.4%)
- Belle Place Elementary - 285 (4.6%)
- Belle Place Middle - 373 (6%)
- Caneview Elementary - 410 (6.6%)
- Center Street Elementary - 188 (3%)
- Coteau Elementary - 203 (3.3%)
- Daspit Elementary - 308 (5%)
- Delcambre Elementary - 433 (7%)
- Delcambre High - 508 (8.2%)
- Iberia Middle - 414 (6.7%)
- Jeanerette High - 138 (2.2%)
- Johnston-Hopkins Elementary - 301 (4.9%)
- Loreauville High - 508 (8.2%)
- Magnolia Elementary - 271 (4.4%)
- New Iberia Senior High - 1170 (18.9%)
- North Lewis Elementary - 404 (6.5%)
- Park Elementary - 111 (1.8%)
- Pesson Elementary - 210 (3.4%)
- St. Charles Elementary - 134 (2.2%)
- Sugarland Elementary - 153 (2.5%)
- Westgate High - 626 (10.1%)
Q: Does your child currently ride a school bus? (6,180 responses)
- 55.8% - Yes
- 44.2% - No
Q: When does your child normally ride the bus? (3,449 responses)
- 81.3% - Both
- 14.6% - Afternoon
- 4.1% - Morning
Q: If there are restrictions imposed on bus operations due to group sizes or social distancing requirements, would your family be willing to voluntarily provide your own transportation instead of riding the bus? (3,449 responses)
- 58.7% - Yes
- 41.3% - No
Q: If schools are not allowed to open for all students, every day, would you be interested in picking up meals for the days your children will remain at home? (6,180 responses)
- 59.1% - Yes
- 40.9% - No
According to IPSB, the Family Technology Survey received 5,277 responses from parents.
Here are the questions asked on the survey and a summary of the responses.
Q: Which selection best describes your Internet access in your home? (5,277 responses)
- 69.2% - Broadband Internet (high-speed, cable, DSL, etc.)
- 17.6% - Internet access using a cell phone
Q: Who is your Internet or mobile hot spot provider? (3,980 responses)
- 46.2% - Cox
- 30.5% - AT&T
- 10.3% - Suddenlink
Q: Does the student have access to a computer in your home that can be used for instructional purposes? (5,277 responses)
- 49.6% - Yes, but the device is shared by family members
- 28.3% - No device available
- 22.1% - Yes, and it is used solely by student
Q: Select the type of device available. Select all that apply. (1,164 responses)
- Laptop - 670 (57%
- Smartphone - 652 (56%)
- iPad - 348 (29.9%)
- Chromebook - 306 (26.3%)
- Desktop computer - 276 (23.7%)
- Android tablet 118 (10.1%)
- Kindle Fire - 60 (5.2%)
Q: Do you have another student? (1,164 responses)
- No - 62.8%
- Yes - 37.2%
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