D-205 Board Closing Doors To Discuss Dispute

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst School District 205 board plans to close its doors Thursday to discuss the teachers union's issues with its decision to start the school year with a blend of in-person and remote learning. Meanwhile, the union continues to press its case for fully remote learning because of the coronavirus. On Tuesday, it criticized administrators for holding a virtual retreat while planning for students and staff to meet in person.

"Will any board member or district administrator commit to spending an entire school day in a classroom full of students?" the Elmhurst Teachers Council asked in its post.

In a post Wednesday, the union said every teacher wants to go back to school in person. But the organization said more than half of teachers or members of their families have increased medical factors and the district has not agreed to let them work remotely.

In another post, the union said that if the district brings back too many students too quickly, disruptions would occur every time students and staff get sick.

"This chaos is bad for learning and bad for students' well-being," the union said in the post.

On Tuesday, the district revealed that about 85 percent of local families want in-person learning for their students.

The district has said little about the union's request to go to fully remote learning, something that other districts, including Lyons Township High School, are planning.

Late Tuesday, the district announced the board would hold a closed meeting Thursday. It would take public comment starting at 6:30 p.m., with the closed session starting an hour later.

The board cited exceptions under the state's open meetings law to close the doors for discussion of union negotiations, specific personnel and placement of students in special education programs.

Asked about the union negotiations, district spokeswoman Bev Redmond said administrators were meeting with teachers Wednesday for "impact bargaining" related to the next year. Then, she said, administrators would report on the issues during the closed session.

Under the open meetings law, while the board can talk about union negotiation issues in closed session, it cannot talk more generally about its reopening plan away from the public.

The union did not return a message for comment. Nor did Superintendent Dave Moyer or board President Kara Caforio.

In a statement last week, Moyer said, "The administration is looking forward to a collaborative dialogue about how to best support student learning, while protecting the health and safety of our students and staff."

District 205 serves more than 8,000 students, equivalent to the population of Clarendon Hills. It employs nearly 600 teachers. The Elmhurst Teachers Council is part of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

Under the current plan, school starts Aug. 24. Parents have the right to choose a fully remote option for their children.

Here is what nearby districts are planning:

Here's What District 61 Is Planning For New Year

Here's What Hinsdale D-86 Plans for Fall

Here's What District 181 Is Planning For New Year

Here's What LTHS Is Planning For Fall

La Grange Highlands Parents Upset About Remote Learning Plan