'Joy Of A Snow Day' No Longer In Elmhurst D205

ELMHURST, IL – In early 2021, Elmhurst resident Becca Harpster was a vocal opponent of remote learning in Elmhurst School District 205.

She still is.

At Tuesday's school board meeting, she made known her opposition to remote learning during snow days.

She noted the board held a public hearing in June on the remote learning plan for snow days.

She missed it. But she said the school district could have done a better job in getting out the word.

"I thought it was pretty standard knowledge these days that remote learning is not an effective substitute for in-person learning," Harpster told the board. "Even if it's for only five days a year, that's five less effective school days than we had before."

She said her children hated remote learning.

"School provides more than just instructional time. Social cues, friends and community are all missing in this plan, and those are also important to the school day," Harpster said.

Remote learning, she said, was particularly bad for the mental health of one of her children.

"I think you are valuing convenience over what's best for our children's mental health and for their learning," Harpster said. "I'm saddened that kids in 205 will no longer experience the joy of a snow day."

School officials did not respond to her comments.

During the June hearing, Associate Superintendent Scott Grens said the use of remote learning would be few and far between.

"This would be a rare, rare, rare option for us," Grens told the board at the time. "It is another tool in the shed that would be utilized in the event of circumstances such as a possible polar vortex or another potential inclement weather situation that would cause us to be unable to go to the in-person school that we love in this district. Again, the emphasis here is on the rarity."