SPOKANE, Wash. — While most school districts in the Spokane area have announced their plans for returning to school in the fall, there are still so many questions for parents to sort out.
Some of the most common questions include: Will virtual learning look different this fall than what students already experienced? How will the schools opening with in-person classes handle virus outbreaks? What are creative solutions for finding childcare?
KREM 2 took those questions to local health and educational leaders during out hour-long Back 2 School: Your Questions Answered Special.
Some of the questions and answers are written below. The eight-part special can be found through this article or at the bottom in a Youtube playlist. The special can also be watched in parts by clicking here.
Questions with Dr. Bob Lutz, Spokane Regional Health Officer
The following are some of the questions asked to Dr. Bob Lutz and his answers.
Mark Hanrahan: Students in Spokane were sent home back in March, and here we are five months later, about to start a new year virtually. From your perspective, where do we stand as a community with COVID-19, and is there a reasonable hope that kids will be able to return to in-person classes some time this year?
Dr. Bob Lutz: I think if you look at where we are now versus where we were a number of months ago, we know a lot more about COVID-19. And by the same token, the more we know, the more we realize we don’t know. So, you know, with all the decisions about back to school and how you get more students back in person, we’ve been looking at, for example, the amount of disease in our community. And as you know, we definitely were very concerning just a number of months ago, even not that long ago. What I do take note of, is that since the governor’s mandate back in July requiring face coverings, we’ve had a significant plateauing then decrease in cases, which is very encouraging. And so I think, to answer your question, can we expect to see students to more in-person? I think time will tell, but I continue to encourage, be very patient, be very cautious and we just have to be very flexible and dynamic to what happens on the ground.
Whitney Ward: We’ve heard from several families tonight that are planning on forming these type of learning pods, essentially creating these small groups of students and parents to try to navigate this remote learning together. My first question is, do you think that’s safe? And do you have any advice on how to do it safely, or maybe some do’s and don’ts?
BL: Yeah I think I’ve heard a lot about the pods, and certainly we know that families and children, when I go and walk in my neighborhood, I see children playing all the time. My hope is that those pods are going to be made of children who have been spending time together. The question is, however, when you bring lots of little people indoors, is that going to increase the risk of infection? I think I would strongly encourage working with families that you’ve spent time with over the summer months, keeping your groups small, definitely a lot of hygiene, washing hands, and I can’t emphasize enough the importance of face coverings. A lot of pushback at times, but I think children want to please, and I think if you provide the right messaging, children will wear face coverings. And again, it’s a good message for them to be seeing how they’re helping others.
Questions with Dr. Adam Swinyard, Superintendent of Spokane Public Schools
The following are some of the questions asked to Dr. Adam Swinyard and his answers .
Whitney Ward: For those parents who are trying to balance their work, which they know is going to be happening during the day, and now kids who may be home during that time, trying to figure out how to make it work best, what is your advice to those parents who feel like they're juggling right now?
Adam Swinyard: We're working really hard to emphasize that this is the moment where we need to come together. Together, we can get through this and we can do it. We're really encouraging families, as we lead up to this, to talk about routines and structures. Where is everybody going to sit? Where is everybody going to do their work? What's the start of the day going to look like? And, what's breakfast going to look like? All those different pieces that go into our day, just like we would develop routines to get to the bus on time. We think those are really important things for families to think and plan through.
WW: As overwhelmed as parents might be, what about those kids who might be overwhelmed? What should those conversations look like right now?
AS: You should engage in those conversations, as parents and guardians better understand what it's going to look like, begin echoing that down to the student, so they can start building an image and a vision in their mind. And part of that for many of our students is grieving and being frustrated and nervous and scared of the unknown.
It's so important for families to sit down and talk about, 'What are you hearing?' What scares you? What worries do you have?' Sometimes those are really logical, and parents just need to address that those are real and legitimate. And sometimes they're not logical, and it's an opportunity for parents to provide that clarification and say, 'That isn't how it is, this is the reality.' And you don't get there with a child unless you sit down and talk it through.
WW: How is online learning going to be different this fall than it was in the spring?
AS: That's a really important point for parents to have clarity around. In the fall, there was a lot of autonomy for when kids could engage in the work. And there was a once a week required live meeting, that was required for each course and grade level, and what's so significantly different about this fall, is that it will be a real time school day. There will be a start time, an end time. There will be a routine and a schedule and a structure around each subject area.
But there is no question, in-person instruction is the way we want our kids to learn. It is the best way for kids to learn and grow and we're very eager to get back to that as soon as we possibly can.
Questions with Kristin Soures, mental health counselor, school consultant and author
The following are some of the questions answered by Kristin Soures.
Mark Hanrahan: We’ve heard from frustrated parents like this one saying all these changes are overwhelming. So as families prepare to navigate virtually learning, what should parents be doing to help our kids emotionally prepare for a very different school year?
Kristin Soures: That’s a great question, and I think the thing I would say to parents is I know this is so stressful, and the best things we can do for our kids is to keep ourselves regulated, and to model that, because our kids need to feel safe and connected and supported, and if we’re stressed and anxious, they’re going to cue off of that. And I think part of what we want to do with our kids is just acknowledge that this is just a completely unexpected event that’s happened, and we’re working really hard to support you, and so let’s get some things in check to help you stay regulated so you can be your best self. And connect with your kids. Have good conversations about what they’re excited about, what they’re worried about, what’s been hard for them, what was helpful last year, what was not so helpful, and finding permission to kind of have those real conversations with them about what they need from us to feel supported, and what they need to feel successful in the classroom. And just be open to having those conversations ongoingly.
Whitney Ward: We also know that all kids handle things really differently, so what are some signs parents should be looking out for, just so they can make sure and know if their child is starting to struggle?
KS: Another great question. I think one of the things I’ve learned from all of this, is the need for us to be willing to have hard conversations. And having hard conversation don’t have to be scary, or anger-driven, or intimidating. It’s just about being able to ask, ‘How are you doing?’ And, ‘I’ve noticed some changes, and are things going OK?’ And we need to have that constant open dialogue. And we need to be communicating with the education professionals too, about what you’re noticing about my child? Is there anything I need to do differently? And are you worried about stuff, or how is this going for you? And I think being open to having those hard conversations is going to invite opportunity to share what they need, and being in tune to what our kids need and how they do their best and be their best selves.
MM: Beyond just concerns about virtual learning, what about socialization? My kids are seven and eight years old, Whitney has young kids as well. They are really missing that socialization with other kids. They haven’t really been around their friends, been able to run around with them and play since March. Any advice?
KS: Of course they’re missing it. We’re social beings by nature, right? So this has been challenging for so many people, and it is hard when they’re supposed to be interacting with friends and creating new memories and that’s been affected by this. And the reality is, we have to put our safety and health first. So we may have to be creative with how we create those social opportunities, and try to get creative with how we can virtually connect with friends, and go back to old-fashioned ways of letter writing, or engaging in different kinds of conversation, and I think we just have to honor that this is really hard. We just need to work together and be kind to each other and just trust that we’re going to get through this.
Questions with Scott Kerwin, Director of Technology & Information at Spokane Public Schools
The following are questions answered by Scott Kerwin.
Whitney Ward: Our first question really has to do with just logistics. A parent wrote in to say tonight, “Our internet bill has jumped 30 percent. We just don’t think we can financially do it again.” They’re asking is there any assistance available for parents who are just struggling to pay for internet?
Scott Kerwin: That’s a great question. One of the main supports we’re leveraging right now are T-Mobile hotspots. We have a limited amount where families can check them out and use them at their houses that operate off of a cell phone signal, and we’re also waiting for OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) at the state level to use their CARES Act dollars to find a vendor for some internet subsidies there. We are also entering into a conversation very early with Comcast for internet essentials. That’s been available but they’ve removed some barriers from families, which we’re really excited about. And so, we have kind of a menu of options for families that need that support.
Mark Hanrahan: Next, we’re asking for recommendations to obtain tutoring while learning remotely?
SK: It’s actually been really nice to be regionally where we are in Spokane, and have so many universities and community colleges in our area. We hear from programs at those colleges that they are willing and want to support in addition to our student-teachers and teacher ed programs who also want to support those tutoring options. So usually our structure was AVID as a district program, to have college tutors to be on-site in school buildings, and we’re hoping to continue that relationship and those conversations with local colleges, to make sure our students and families are supported.
Watch the full special below: