D-205 Sticks To Schedule, But With Key Change

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst School District 205 appears to be sticking with its start date of Aug. 24. But it plans to teach students remotely for the first three weeks until Sept. 14, which is when the first in-person lessons would begin.

On Tuesday night, school board members generally agreed to begin the school year with three weeks of remote learning. But one member said he considered the delay for in-person learning a "back door" to go remote for a long time.

In July, the district decided on a blended approach of in-person and remote days for middle and high school students and in-person learning every day for elementary school students. According to the district, about 85 percent of families surveyed prefer at least some in-person learning.

But the teachers union publicly announced its opposition to the plan last week, recommending the district go with an entirely remote plan. It said many of its teachers could not show up at the schools because of health issues.

At Tuesday's meeting, Superintendent Dave Moyer presented three options for starting the school year Sept. 14. Each one meant extending classes into mid-June.

After the presentation, Moyer said he would advocate for a remote start to the school year Aug. 24. He said it was not logistically possible to start the school year in August because the district was unable to staff classrooms.

Most board members agreed with Moyer's preference.

"I think it would be pure folly to start York High School any later than Aug. 24," member Jim Collins said. "To push everything back disadvantages our children compared to other communities in the area. Aug. 24, no matter what it takes, has my full support."

Member Chris Kocinski said he opposed starting remotely Aug. 24. He said he believed that seemed like a "back door" to go entirely remote for all or much of the year.

"Our school district is an essential service, and part of the essential service is an option for in-person," Kocinski said.

Board President Kara Caforio said it was important to keep Aug 24 as the start of school, even if lessons were done remotely.

"I struggle with it if we aren't committing to figuring out how to get kids in school. There is a huge impact," said Caforio, her voice breaking. "We have to think about how it looks if kids aren't back in buildings. We shouldn't push off the start of school. This is a really chaotic, strange time."

Member Karen Stuefen twice said two-thirds of the district's staff was prepared for in-person learning. And she pointed out the 85 percent support among families for in-person learning.

"These are their treasured loved ones. That's a huge statement for me," she said.

Member Margaret Harrell said the Aug. 24 start date was the district's "declaration that we can move forward together."

At the end of the discussion, Caforio said it looked like the district was starting remotely Aug. 24, rather than delaying until Sept. 14.