District 205's 'Inhumane' Room Denounced

ELMHURST, IL — An Elmhurst resident on Tuesday condemned what she called a plastic, zippered isolation room at Bryan Middle School, which is used for children who have had close contact with those with the coronavirus.

During an Elmhurst School District 205 board meeting, resident Jackie Haddad-Tamer, also the elected Elmhurst city clerk, focused on the room at Bryan Middle School, but also noted a similar room at Sandburg Middle School.

Tamer, the chairwoman of the Elmhurst Commission on Youth, said her research revealed that Bryan and Sandburg middle schools were the only ones with such a room among DuPage County schools. She presented a photo of the room to the board.

"I'm speaking about an issue you already know about, but chose to ignore it," Tamer said. "By the picture there, it looks like you cannot see in or out of it. One child called it a secret, locked room in the back. I guess it would feel that way to spend one minute in there as an adult. As a child, I cannot even imagine. And what if there is a fire while in that plastic, zippered room?"

One child, Tamer said, refused to attend school for a week to avoid being sent to the "bubble."

She said no state agency requires such a room and that other districts have rooms with clear plastic and doors. She said one District 205 administrator told her the plastic, zippered room is a good idea because the virus is contagious and dangerous.

"Anyone who believes this is a good idea should reconsider their profession," she said.

Tamer said the district owes every child who has been sent to such a room an apology.

"Not an apology with an excuse about why you thought this was a good idea, a pure apology that recognizes this is wrong and detrimental to a child's mental health," Tamer said.

She said she hoped to hear back from a school official soon that the problem has been taken care of, and "this inhumane room no longer exists."

Tamer did not mention her roles as city clerk and youth commission chairwoman.

The school board said nothing in response. It is the board's practice not to respond to public comments. Some boards, including the one for Hinsdale High School District 86, let members answer.