Parents Demand Reopening Schools For In-Person Studies In D225

GLENVIEW, IL — Stating a majority of the community wants kids back into the classroom for in-person learning, a group of residents will be holding a rally from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at Gallery Park, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. Organizers are expecting hundreds of people at the rally.

"Despite our outstanding teachers' greatest efforts, e-Learning is no substitute for an in-person education," said Julie Henry, one of the event's organizers. "Our kids are not learning at the same level online as they learn in-person."

The Glenbrook High School District 225 Board of Education is slated to meet in a special meeting Monday night. Synchronous online classes for the 2020-2021 school year began in August, and students are required to follow a schedule, mirroring a school day.

"[The students] are sedentary and socially isolated. Their mental health is at risk," Henry said. "There are local schools returning to classroom teaching with great success. While the virus concerns are valid, we want District 225 to safely reopen for in-person instruction."

Karen Geddeis, director of public relations and communications for the district, told Patch that the earliest the district could move into Phase 3 of its four-phased plan is Oct. 5. In Phase 3, students attend school in-person every day, either in the morning or the afternoon, determined by an alphabetic group assignment.

"We all want to return to in-person instruction and work each day to try to move in that direction. The district’s fall learning plan includes a four-step process, of which we are currently in step two," Geddeis said. "During step two, small groups of students have returned to the buildings, and we are so grateful to have them back."

She added that the Board of Education, administration, and the School Reopening Advisory Committee discuss the ability to move into the next step of phases at every meeting. Geddeis said the district plans to provide an update to parents, students and staff in terms of potential movement this week.

"We believe the BOE and Advisory Committee have not placed enough emphasis on the negative impact to the student stakeholders and the unhealthy experiences with remote learning," Henry said.

Several high school students plan to speak at the rally to express their concerns. In addition, Dr. Dana Russo, Grant Koster and Paul Vallas will be guest speakers at the event, according to Henry.

Organizers point out other local schools, like Loyola Academy, are now offering in-person instruction.

"Implementing the safety guidelines is challenging, but it is the administration’s job to implement those guidelines and get our kids back to school," Henry said. "We are hopeful that the board of education will listen to parents concerns and vote against any recommendation by the administration to place additional non-mandatory metric barriers between our kids and their safe return to school for in-person learning."

Henry said she is hopeful the rally will pre-empt any vote by the School Board as the concerns of rally attendees will be heard at the rally.

Related:
School Begins With Synchronous E-Learning In August: District 225