District 99 Opts For Modified Hybrid Model To Start School Year

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Community High School District 99 has unanimously approved a modified hybrid learning model to start the 2020-21 school year. The district will begin with a week of hybrid learning (both online and onsite learning) on Aug. 17 before shifting to a remote model until September.

As of September 8, District 99 will return to a hybrid learning model "if it is safe to return based on Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) health metrics," according to a letter to community members from District 99 Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele. At the Aug. 3 board of education meeting, Thiele said staffing issues will also be resolved during the interim.

Families will have until Aug. 7 to opt out of in-person learning.

The topic of how District 99 students will return to school has been a polarizing one for parents, students, staff and community members. At the start of the Aug. 3 board of education meeting, Thiele said, "We are all doing the best we can in a terrible situation. Nobody knows the absolute right answer right now, and we're all trying to do what we think is best for our students."

He added, "For my first time as a leader, I am confident that I will choose an outcome that will make nobody happy, not even myself. There is really nothing to be happy about in this time of COVID. And that's probably the only thing that we can all agree upon right now."

One parent who spoke at the meeting urged the board to take on a fully remote model, saying, "I am one of the few parents in the room who also think we should remote learn. I think the risk is too high. Both of my students are afraid to go back to school and both have anxiety."

Another parent echoed these sentiments, saying, "I am frustrated, I am scared, and I am unsure of what the district has in store for my child's emotional, physical and academic well-being this fall."

One student who spoke at the meeting quoted students from Downers Grove North and South High Schools about struggles with remote learning, including "being overwhelmed." She said, "We fear that we're not going to get a good education if we go back to remote learning," citing technological and student's personal issues as challenges.

Under hybrid learning portion of the 2020-21 plan, students grades 10 through 12 will be split into groups alphabetically and will attend school two days a week. Incoming freshman will also be split alphabetically for the first Monday of school before attending afternoon classes for the remainder of the first week.

Thiele wrote in his letter to community members, "Thank you to those of you who spent so much time and energy creating our evolving plan and the passion everyone has shown for providing a positive experience for our students. The teachers, parents, staff and students who served on committees spent many hours considering various options and contributing input and ideas. It was truly a collaborative effort."