D124 To Recommend Remote Learning Plan At Special Board Meeting

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — The Evergreen Park Dist. 124 Board of Education will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Aug. 25, when administrators plan to recommend full remote learning for the district’s five grammar schools. The meeting will start 5:30 p.m. and can be viewed on Zoom. Board members are expected to review the current reopening plan and vote on in-person learning.

Students were scheduled to return for alternate half days this week on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and Thursday, Aug. 27. The first full day of in-person learning will be on Friday, Aug. 28. Students are still expected to attend school on these days.

The D124 administration is recommending a remote learning plan to ensure all schools are appropriately staffed and ready for the school year. The teacher’s union submitted two letters to the district’s co-acting superintendents and school board urging a remote start to the school year.

The teachers’ union had expressed concerns about COVID-19-related staff absences, classroom spacing and quarantining. Some classroom vents are also said to be faulty. Some members of the Evergreen Park Federation of Teachers stated that ten staff members had either tested positive or were under investigation for COVID-19.

According to a written statement posted on the D124 website, the school district has experienced a dramatic increase in families requesting remote learning “resulting in major staffing shifts.”

“This increase has forced the district’s administrative team to recommend to the Board of Education that Evergreen Park School District 124 move to a full remote learning platform to begin the 2020-2021 school year.”

“The district has followed all IDPH, ISBE and CDC guidelines regarding the opening of school and has put a clear framework in place regarding PPE, cleaning, disinfecting and identification and actions necessary for Covid-19 exposure. In addition, we have worked closely with the Cook County Department of Public Health. In spite of all of this work, we are making a very difficult decision regarding in-person learning.”

If approved during the emergency board meeting the resulting recommendation would enact a plan for the school year beginning remotely for all students. Students will virtually attend two remote learning half days on Thursday, Sept. 3 and Friday, Sept. 4. Students will begin their regular remote learning schedule the day after Labor Day on Tuesday, Sept. 8. It is anticipated remote learning will continue through Friday, Oct. 2.

The remote learning program has also been greatly improved since the spring, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker suddenly ordered the closing of all schools in the state, D124 officials said. Students previously scheduled for in-person learning that need to borrow a device can pick one up from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Aug. 26-28, at Central Middle School, 9400 S. Sawyer Ave.

A link to the remote meeting will be provided. Please click the following link to submit a Public Comment by noon tomorrow, Aug. 25.