Professional Oklahoma Educators Press Release
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA (July 29, 2020) — As we near the reopening of schools, there will no doubt be significant challenges in balancing a safe return to the classroom. To gauge teachers’ views on this issue, Professional Oklahoma Educators surveyed its members regarding school safety protocols and reopening plans.
With 1,328 members responding to COVID-19 school protocols survey, 64.84% are in agreement with their school district’s reopening plan. More than 80% have a backup plan if the virus spikes in their school. Of those backup plans, 43.94% of respondents will go virtual, while 54.06% will implement distance learning.
In response to the recommendations of the Oklahoma State Board of Education for a COVID-19 alert system, nearly 65 percent (64.6%) agree with the school board’s recommendations. Of those in agreement, 39.83% thought all school reopening policies should be decided at the local level, not mandated by the state , while 24.77% thought the State Board’s recommendations should have been statewide mandates instead of recommendations.
A majority of respondents (58.93%) said their school does not have a mask mandate at this time. When asked what they would like for their school to implement regarding safety protocols, 26.37% indicated implementing a mask requirement for students and adults with 22.99% wanting to continue with the reopening as planned. More than 21% want to delay the opening of school and 12.77% want virtual only.
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