The 2020-2021 school year will be remembered as a uniquely challenging time for students, educators, and administrators. Reopening schools for the fall in the midst of a global pandemic was a daunting task. And though it may appear the uncertainty has diminished, given we are halfway through the first quarter, a large amount of variability remains.

It is important to understand that the decisions made by local and state officials regarding COVID-19 regulations have an impact on everyone in the district. Hence, the perspectives of students, teachers, and administrators deserve to be acknowledged. 

Undoubtedly, the endeavor to resume school proved arduous for district officials. “The money was less, the demands were more,” said North Kingstown Superintendent Dr. Phil Auger. “Normally we enter June or July knowing exactly what’s going to happen next year.” That was far from the case for the North Kingstown School Department (NKSD) this past June. 

Auger added that one of the biggest challenges the NKSD faced was “providing a rigorous program in schools with as much quality programming that we’re used to while keeping everybody safe with a pandemic going on.” 

Mr. David Avedisian, a social studies teacher, said, “I felt a bit overwhelmed trying to teach three different groups of kids at once. You have kids who don’t show up to class virtually on time.” He included some difficulties teachers are facing this year unrelated to the pandemic; “Some of the hardware that the school department has provided us isn’t the latest and greatest equipment. The biggest obstacle is this canvas thing the school department is trying to implement. I don’t think the school department should be implementing new software in the midst of a pandemic.” 

President of the Teachers Union, Sue Warburton, agrees with Avedisian’s sentiments regarding Canvas. Warburton said the schools should “allow a slow rollout for Canvas.” She advised the district “keep using google classroom as teachers need until all are comfortable enough to transition for fall 2021”. 

Dr. Auger commented on the specific struggles educators have faced this year. “I appreciate the efforts they’re putting in. We have to work together as a district and make it so the job is manageable.” 

Student lives have been equally affected by the new year. “Life as a student has gone from a smooth day to individual pieces of a day strung together.” said Junior Eva Junge. She mentioned that a lot of her day includes “logging onto google meets” and “squinting to see virtual labs.”

In respect to CDC  guidelines, Junge expressed how she is pleased with the social-distancing behaviors of students in school, but concerned about their habits outside of the classroom. “While students are very compliant with social-distancing in school, the lack of compliance with social-distancing guidelines while outside of school is concerning. Staying six feet apart in the classroom won’t help two students who travel to Connecticut over the weekend, or go to Jitters with large groups after school. The first priority has to be student health.” 

Yet some faculty members argue that placing too many restrictions on the basis of health precautions could jeopardize the education students deserve. Avedision mentioned that as an educator, his perception of reopening is more “radical”, given he believes “kids belong in school”. When asked what other teachers think about reopening, he said, “everyone’s all over the place.”

Opinions also vary on how the NKSD should tackle a COVID contraction inside one of the schools. Public information regarding cases differs from district to district. School departments, such as East Greenwich, notify entire campuses when an individual, who was on school grounds, has contracted COVID. The name of the specific student would remain anonymous, yet students, teachers, administrators, and parents would be notified that an individual in their respective building is COVID positive.  The North Kingstown School Department is not operating in this way. 

“We are notifying people about cases as needed.” said Dr. Auger. When asked why the NKSD is not operating in a way similar to East Greenwich and other districts, the Superintendent said, “We feel it creates more anxiety.” Dr. Auger additionally mentioned that assigned seating charts are crucial in deciding who does and does not need to be notified about specific cases.

Avedisian partially agrees with the way the NKSD is notifying individuals, yet he put an emphasis on providing teachers with as much information as possible. “I do think the classroom teachers should be notified why the kid’s not in the room. Sometimes common sense needs to take place over federal law.” When asked if he believes an entire building should be notified about a single case, he gave a blunt “no”. 

Warburton emphasized that though teachers and faculty have contrasting opinions on procedures and regulations, unity is necessary for the sake of the students. “We are all trying to support each other so that we can support our students to the best of our ability.” she said. The Teachers Union President additionally mentioned that the School Committee should “set up open forums for the sole purpose of having a back and forth with stakeholders about how things are going.” An open forum meeting would allow educators to express their general opinions on the new year to School Department and School Committee members with back and forth dialogue. 

History has yet to write the decided fate of the 2020-2021 school year. Most predict that it’s demise will either be relative to increased COVID cases throughout the district, or a decline in the standard of education at North Kingstown. Yet there is a possibility neither will happen, and this year will be recognized as an era of great triumph for this district. More than ever, the common saying holds true: we must hope for the best and prepare for the worst.