ESSER III Engagement Summary

 

Prior engagement (March 2021)

In March of 2021, we held focus groups with English and Spanish speaking parents (approximately 50 English and 60 Spanish participants) to help us determine their needs and wants for our upcoming summer enrichment program specifically designed in response to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Common themes: 

• Desire for connection
  • Student to student
  • Student to adult
• Activities that would get them outside and moving 
  • Sports/physical activity
• Academics but make it fun

Parent survey responses (October 2021) 

551 total parent responses

• 317 Elementary
• 163 Middle
• 199 High
• 28 N/A (i.e. community members without current students)

*Respondents were able to mark all that applied hence the discrepancy in numbers by level vs. total number

In response to: We have identified the following areas as spending priorities to best support our families. Please rank the following with 1 being the most important to you and 9 being the least important.

• Smaller class sizes - ranked #1
• Additional staff to support social-emotional well-being - ranked #3
• Technology staff at the elementary, middle and K-8 levels to help troubleshoot any devices in need of repairs to support student learning. (This staff already exists at the high school level)  - ranked #5
• Summer enrichment programming to reinforce learning, build student connections with each other and student connections to adults at their school - ranked #6
• Additional staff at the preschool level to support special education needs - ranked #7
• New reading resources for grades K-5. These resources have been approved by the Colorado Department of Education and are aligned to evidence and scientifically based reading instruction. - ranked #4
• Additional staff to support individual academic needs in reading and math - ranked #2
• Additional health aides - ranked #8
• Additional bus assistants (help with student management, assist students with special needs, increases safety) - ranked #9

Common themes in response to: Is there another area that you feel should be a priority and is not reflected on the previous list?

• After school activities
  • Reinforcing social interactions with staff and students and developing relationships
  • Enrichment opportunities during the school year, not just summer
• Increased teacher/para compensation
• Additional subs, guest teachers and paras
• Middle school sports
• More transportation options (including magnets and Choice schools)
• Improved air ventilation
• Security
• Tutoring (during the day and after school - all levels)
• Compensating teachers/staff for the additional workload during the pandemic
• Prioritize schools in areas where students/families have fewer resources
• SEL support for students and staff
• Additional SPED and GT resources 

Common themes in response to: The pandemic saw us implement new strategies and resources, what things were particularly helpful for your student that you would like to see continue?

• Technology (devices and use of technology in the classroom)
• Free meals
  • Beyond the food, it has created an additional opportunity for social interaction during breakfast
• Desire for students to be able to join class remotely when sick or in quarantine
• Virtual meetings including conferences, board meetings, PTOs, parent groups
• Asynchronous Wednesdays for secondary students
• Additional SEL supports
• More communication between teachers and students/parents
• Smaller class sizes
• Schoology
• Extra cleaning, hand washing, hand sanitizing, etc. 

Staff survey responses (October 2021)

244 total responses

• 104 Elementary
• 71 Middle
• 80 High 

*Respondents were able to mark all that applied hence the discrepancy in numbers by level vs. total number

In response to: We have identified the following areas as spending priorities to best support our families. Please rank the following with 1 being the most important to you and 9 being the least important.

• Smaller class sizes - ranked #1
• Additional staff to support social-emotional well-being - ranked #3
• Technology staff at the elementary, middle and K-8 levels to help troubleshoot any devices in need of repairs to support student learning. (This staff already exists at the high school level)  - ranked #5
• Summer enrichment programming to reinforce learning, build student connections with each other and student connections to adults at their school - ranked #7
• Additional staff at the preschool level to support special education needs - ranked #6
• New reading resources for grades K-5. These resources have been approved by the Colorado Department of Education and are aligned to evidence and scientifically based reading instruction. - ranked #4
• Additional staff to support individual academic needs in reading and math - ranked #2
• Additional health aides - ranked #8
• Additional bus assistants (help with student management, assist students with special needs, increases safety) - ranked #9

Common themes in response to: Is there another area that you feel should be a priority and is not reflected on the previous list?

• Increased pay
  • Teachers, classified, custodial
• Staff well-being
  • Mental health days
  • Planning and prep time
  • Counseling on site
  • Reliable technology/tech support
• More subs/guest teachers/paras
  • Increased pay and benefits
• Increased SPED support
  • Paras
  • Resources, curriculum
  • Increase in extreme behavior, trauma, and mental health issues even in gen ed classes
• Middle school sports and afterschool activities
  • Enrichment opportunities
  • Improves social-emotional health
  • Opportunity for students to build relationships with staff in an area that interests them
• Full time DLP
• Additional interventionists
• Additional support for Science

Common themes in response to: The pandemic saw us implement new strategies and resources, what things were particularly helpful for your student that you would like to see continue?

• 1:1 technology
• Tech resources/ online resources/subscriptions
  • PearDeck, Edpuzzle, Flipgrid, Schoology, Razkids, SeeSaw
• Asynchronous Wednesdays
  • Opportunity for students to catch up but also to connect with staff
• Smaller classes
• The additional SEL support staff has been great but there is a need for more
• Virtual meetings
  • IEP, conferences, trainings
• Remote learning options