D124 Votes To Keep In-Person, Remote Learning Options As Planned

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — The Evergreen Park Dist. 124 Board of Education voted 6 to 1 to keep the in-person and remote learning options when students return to school this fall.

A special board meeting was convened Tuesday when the Evergreen Park Federation of Teachers Union expressed concerns about COVID-19-related staff absences, classroom spacing quarantining, PPE and malfunctioning ventilation equipment. The teachers union stated in a letter to D124 board members and administrators that ten staff members had either tested positive or were under investigation for COVID-19.

D124 Board President Kim Leonard denounced the teachers union’s COVID claims as “misinformation” put out by Evergreen Park Patch.

Seventy-five percent of families responded to a district-wide survey over the summer indicating they favored physically returning to classrooms as long as rigorous safety protocols were in place. Other parents wished to keep their children at home due to COVID-19 concerns chose remote learning. The district did not consider a hybrid and blended learning plan, where students would switch off between in-person and remote learning during the week, because working parents did not want it.

Many families said it wasn’t fair to change up the plan at the last minute, because they were counting on sending their kids back to school this fall. Working parents, in particular, expressed dismay over the timing of the district’s last-minute consideration to change the in-person learning plan, stating that they lacked the financial resources to quit their jobs or ability to take unpaid leave to stay home with their children for remote learning.

Still, others expressed concern that their students were not getting the social and emotional benefits of learning in a classroom, claiming their children were falling behind academically or regressing without the therapeutic services provided by the district to thrive academically when schools closed in the spring. Others said teachers were essential and to get another job if they didn’t want to risk getting coronavirus in the classroom.

D124 board members and staff took turns reading public comments before adjourning into a lengthy closed session. All the public comments will be posted on the district's website Wednesday.

“As a parent who works in a grocery store we are considered essential. Like many others I can’t do my job from home. If we were to go to strictly remote learning I would not be able to keep up with the required hours every day especially if there are specific times that you have to signed in to learn from the teacher,” a parent said. “I understand wanted to keep everyone safe but as a parent who works 40-plus hours a week our children will fall behind.”

Another parent said changing the plan now was not fair to the working families who already committed for full in-person learning.

“Those that do not feel comfortable sending their kids should respect the decisions of families who have opted to send them. Remote learning does not accommodate working families’ needs or schedule … I was so impressed with the back to school plan and felt and still feel my kids will be safe returning to school,” she said.

“Do you guys have any idea the sacrifice in money I spent on all of my five school-age children to go back to your district? Well over $1,ooo. I’m a single mother with no job no unemployment and cannot find a job,” another parent said. “Plus how will I go back to work now … I can’t afford the luxury to stay home …”

The school board voted to begin in-person learning on Thursday, Sept. 3, for students whose last names begin with “A-Li,” and Friday, Sept. 4, for students whose names begin with “Lj-Z”. Students will return for a full day of in-person learning on Tuesday, Sept. 8 after the Labor Day Holiday.

Remote Learning orientation will occur on the same two half days, for students whose last names beginning with "A-Li" on Thursday, September 3rd and for students whose names begin with "Lj-Z" on Friday, Sept. 4. Full Day remote learning will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 8 after the Labor Day Holiday.