Here's How Many D-205 Teachers May Not Show Up

ELMHURST, IL — Twice at this week's Elmhurst School District 205 board meeting, member Karen Stuefen said two-thirds of staff were prepared to execute the district's plan for in-person learning. This is while the teachers union opposes any in-person learning in light of the worsening pandemic.

Elmhurst Patch checked Stuefen's number with Bev Redmond, the district's communications director. Redmond said she agreed with it.

If this is the case, that means one-third of teachers are not prepared to show up for in-person learning.

In 2019, the district employed 591 teachers, according to the Illinois Report Card website. One-third would mean that 195 teachers would not show up to school.

The district had planned to open with in-person learning Aug. 24. But Superintendent Dave Moyer said this week the district was unable to do so because of a lack of staffing.

So the district plans to have remote lessons for the first three weeks. It aims to start in-person learning Sept. 14. At that point, high school and middle school students are scheduled a blend of in-person and remote days, while elementary school students would go in-person every day.

The Elmhurst Teachers Council has said it is unsafe for students and teachers to return to school. After more than a week of criticizing the district's reopening plan, the union sounded more conciliatory Wednesday.

"District 205 will begin the school year on time with remote learning. Teachers and district administrators share a commitment to making remote learning engaging and productive," the union said in a Facebook post. "We will work in partnership with the district administration to sustain remote learning for as long as it is necessary, and we look forward to continuing conversations with the district about what health conditions will eventually make a return to the classroom viable and safe for the community."

At this week's board meeting, administrators said it would be difficult to start in-person learning even on Sept. 14, given the staffing challenges.

The union's president, Max Schoenberg, couldn't be reached for immediate comment.