Survey Shows Wenatchee Parents Want Full-Time School, Students and Staff Don’t

The Wenatchee School Board this week reviewed the results of a survey about a return to full-time, in-person instruction taken by parents, students and school staff.

Superintendent Paul Gordon says they got a mixed response with a majority of staff and students not wanting to come back next month.

"We can make the return to full-time learning happen. However, without our classified and certified staff a return to full-time, in-person learning will face significant challenges."

The survey results showed that a vast majority of parents want their kids back in school, and would send them back, particularly at the elementary levels.

Gordon says, "Do we believe that in-person learning is the best for a vast majority of our students? Absolutely. Can we do this? We can, but it will be on a day-to-day basis where we're at with our staffing if a number of staff members take leave."

Board President Laura Jaecks expressed concern that some parents would move their children to another school option if full-time, in-person instruction is not brought back.

The survey showed that 10-16% of parents would not return their kids to the classroom if that is chosen.

65% of school staff and 55% of middle and high school students do not want to return to full-time, in-person instruction.

Parents of 5,800 students responded to the survey as did 2,700 students in the middle and high schools.