A new local survey suggests most parents believe their children feel safe at school, but a significant number also say their kids are experiencing worsening mental health due to COVID-19.
On Jan. 13, the Sea to Sky School District board presented findings from an 885-person survey that was conducted from late November to early December.
About a quarter of respondents said their children don't want to attend school because of the pandemic, and some families are concerned their kids may not finish in time to apply for post-secondary school.
Of those who responded, 726 were parents of children from kindergarten to Grade 9. The remainder were parents of students in grades 10 to 12.
The survey results, presented by Asst. Supt. Chris Nicholson, encompass responses from all Sea to Sky Corridor communities falling under School District 48, including Squamish.
About 86% of parents who responded to the survey believe their child feels safe at school.
Another highlight of the survey results was how parents felt school safety plans were working.
About 75% of parents said the plans are effective upon students' arrival at school; 70% feel the routines are effective during the end of the day. That number drops to 60% when parents were asked whether or not they believe the safety plans are working during recess and breaks.
There was, however, widespread consensus among respondents that communication around the safety plans was effective, with about 90% in agreement.
"We will continue to scan our school learning environments for compliance within those [safety] plans and make those adjustments as necessary," Nicholson said.
Mental health was another big topic, with many parents reporting their children experienced negative emotions as a result of the pandemic.
About 37% of parents said students were experiencing more anxiety and worry than usual, and 33% said their kids were more sad or down than usual.
The survey showed 34% of parents felt children were more irritable than usual, and 26% said their kids did not want to attend school because of COVID-19.
"That gave us lots of things...to work on," said Nicholson.
He said the school district will be asking principals to communicate their mental health plans to their school communities.
Nicholson said authorities will be asking teachers to communicate those plans to students and their parents, which is what many of them are already doing.
The survey also included feedback about how well schools were helping students cope.
About 45% of parents who responded to the survey felt their children had access to mental health support at their school, and 65% felt their children had access to mental health support in the general community.
With classes relying more and more on online lessons, the school district provided wifi to families in need at the beginning of the current school year, Nicholson said.
As a result, about 98% of families reported wifi access, he said.
Most families — 88% — reported having a computer, laptop or tablet at home.
"We have devices available. So, if you, or if you know anyone who requires a device or requires wifi and support, please let us know," said Nicholson. "We are more than happy to help."
The impacts of COVID-19 on learning were also documented.
About a third of parents — 32% — of children between kindergarten to Grade 9 said they were concerned about how the spring lockdown, which kept most kids from in-person classes, affected their kids' learning.
However, 86% said their children were making good progress after returning to in-person classes. The survey showed 73% of parents felt their children's learning was back on track since in-person classes resumed.
Those numbers were different for parents of students in grades 10 to 12.
Among those parents, 43% of respondents said they were concerned about how the spring lockdown affected their children's learning.
A majority of those respondents — 85% — said their kids were making good progress after returning to class this fall, and 77% said their children's learning was back on track.
There were also concerns about graduation among parents of students in grades 10 to 12, with 36% of those parents concerned about whether or not students would finish their courses in time for graduation.
And 38% of respondents said they were worried about whether their kids would finish their classes in time for acceptance to post-secondary institutions.
"Not surprising, given the circumstances," said Nicholson.
He said principals have been provided with individual school data and they will work with school PACs and staff to create a plan to address the concerns.
"We want to ensure there's a tailor-made plan to address these issues at each of the sites," he said.
A final highlight of the survey was families' feelings about safety on school buses.
Perhaps the biggest highlight in this regard was that 75% of parents believed their kids felt safe riding the bus.
Further, 83% of parents said their children wear masks on the bus, though Nicholson said that the youngest of kids aren't required to do so.
