The district hosted a survey on its website last month to solicit input on a plan to add as many as five digital days to the second-semester calendar in place of in-person instruction.
The proposal followed the cancellation of two school days before Christmas, which was intended to give staff and students more time off during a difficult school year as the coronavirus pandemic dragged on.
Among survey respondents who identified themselves as teachers or other instructional staffers, 82 percent liked the idea of spending more time in online learning. Sixty percent of parents said the same.
The top concern, expressed by 78 percent of opponents surveyed, was that students would lose instructional time, according to detailed data the district provided to the Pioneer Press.
In addition:
- 62 percent were concerned about having their schedules disrupted.
- 38 percent said they'd have to find childcare.
- 24 percent were concerned about having to leave their children home alone.
Most of the opponents shared additional concerns in response to an open-ended survey question.
Both families and school staff "expressed that digital learning days are difficult and cause disruption," the district said in a recent message to the community.
"Other challenges include communication between schools, students and families; access to technology at home; family and work schedules; and specific learning needs that can only be met in person. Many respondents expressed not understanding the reason for adding five 'random' days to the calendar."
The St. Paul district held a digital learning day on Election Day and has scheduled another for April 15.
The April date initially was going to be a staff-only work day; changing it to an instructional day makes up for one of the school days canceled before winter break and allows the district to count that time toward its statutory minimum hours of instruction.
©2022 the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
