Results from the most recent district surveys of families and employees show a substantial shift in comfort level for in-person instruction over a survey ending five weeks ago. Seventy-seven percent of district employees and 60% of parents say they are uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with a full return of all students. The previous survey showed strong majority support from both staff and families for traditional, in-person school with safety precautions in place.

Preliminary data from the most recent survey were reviewed and factored into Superintendent Steve Webb’s decision to join seven other Clark County superintendents in recommending that all students begin the upcoming school year in full remote learning. The recommendation also was based on Governor Inslee’s indefinite-length pause of Washington state’s phased reopening plan, the latest health and science data and discussions with health department officials.

Seventy-two percent of teachers and other staff members feel comfortable or very comfortable stepping up to the challenges of 100% remote learning. This is important as the district provides teacher training and prepares to open with an improved version of its remote learning program on Sept. 1. Fifty-three percent of families feel comfortable or very comfortable with 100% remote learning.

Vancouver’s board of directors is scheduled to review the superintendent’s recommendation and the district’s plan for remote learning at a special board study session on Aug. 4. The board then must act on a final plan at its Aug. 11 regular meeting.

More than 9,000 parents/guardians reviewed all the questions in the family survey, and more than 8,500 chose to respond. The number of district staff members completing a similar survey exceeded 1,900. VPS enrolls 23,400 students and employs approximately 4,000 full- and part-time staff members.