Ocean City Schools: Survey, Risk Level Determine Next Steps

OCEAN CITY, NJ - The Ocean City School District analyzed November survey results submitted by over 700 families about students’ experiences so far during this unconventional school year.

The administration will use the feedback to improve coronavirus prevention and planning for the benefit of the students and families. Ocean City Schools Superintendent Kathleen Taylor organized key takeaways from the survey in a letter to the school community released Friday.

But the district has several factors to consider, including the virus's local transmission levels. Cape May County officials learned Friday that the state's southeast region — Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland Counties — may get upgraded to a "high risk" level of community transmission.

The Health Department believes it will know more about the "high-risk" status Wednesday.

The New Jersey Department of Health said in Nov. 14's weekly report that the region is at "moderate risk," while the rest of the state is under high risk.

Ocean City is currently using a hybrid education plan in which they physically attend school two days per week. New Jersey students can also opt to learn fully remote.

The November survey feedback included responses about the volume of assigned work, amount of screen time and frequency of teacher communication.

“These results, combined with the suggestions and concerns we’ve heard directly, will guide decisions to determine if we need to adjust our current school plan,” Superintendent Kathleen W. Taylor said Friday in a letter to the school community. “Although we all remain hopeful to increase in-person time this year, this current plan is our safest and most responsible option given current spikes in positive COVID-19 cases.”

A total of 771 families participated in the November survey, with 90.1 percent of respondents representing students enrolled in the hybrid model. More than half of the respondents, 64.3 percent, represent an Ocean City High School student.

Taylor said the administration will determine both school-specific and district-wide changes to make best use of the data since high school families cited different concerns than primary school families.

The Ocean City School District has reported 31 positive cases and 203 people placed into quarantine as close or direct contacts. The numbers reflect the start of the school year through Friday.

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