Most Students Set To Return In North Shore School District 112

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Most of North Shore School District 112's nearly 4,000 students are set to return to school buildings five days a week for about two hours at a time. So far, more than four out of five families given the option have opted into classroom instruction in the fall, according to district officials.

Administrators presented details of the district's reopening plan July 21, at the school board's first in-person meeting since the emerging coronavirus pandemic forced the sudden shuttering of schools in March.

"I've been very public about the fact that to the degree possible and practical, I agree with the State Board of Education's desire to get children back in school in person, as long as we can follow safety guidelines from CDC and IDPH," Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld told Patch ahead of the meeting.

The plan includes a hybrid of remote and in-person learning for students, as well as the option for families to opt out of in-person instruction entirely.

Participating students will be divided into two groups, with one attending class in the morning and the other in the afternoon, following a two-hour period set aside for teachers' lunch and cleaning. On-site class time will be primarily devoted to language arts and math. During the rest of the day, the district plans a mix of synchronous and asynchronous remote learning, with subjects like arts and physical education taught by teachers at school to children elsewhere.

"I think the great part is that students get to see their teachers every single day, so if kids are struggling on the remote piece, the at-home piece, they're not stuck not seeing their teachers for a day or two days," Kevin Ryan, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, told the board. "They get to see their teachers every day to follow up and ask questions if there are any issues."

Following the meeting, families were given a week to opt out of the half-day model and stick with at-home schooling until November. As of Tuesday morning, more than 2,500 families had responded, and less than 20 percent had opted out, according to Lubelfeld. Those that do not respond will default to the in-person model and be contacted individually after schedules are drawn up next month.

Students in the fully remote group will learn the District 112 curriculum through Illinois Virtual School, which specializes in online learning. Some classes will be taught by district teachers and classes could be composed entirely of local students. Ryan said students in the entirely remote group will be at the same point in the coursework as the in-person cohorts should they chose to return to daily in-person instruction in the winter.

Lubelfeld said the district has been working on a developing a plan to reopen since the day after schools closed. At the same time, he said, administrators must prepare for the possibility of a return to rolling closures.

"We are the public schools, and we are the great equalizer in our society," Lubelfeld said. "We speak for the students, we speak for the experience of schooling that has been ripped out of our students' life through no fault of their own on March 12. They were taken from their public schools where they are safe, they are nurtured, they are cared for by loving teachers and support staff."

The superintendent said the district confronts an unprecedented situation where the needs and interests of students, staff and the wider community have come into conflict with one another.

"This plan is for our students. I represent the students, and I'll never, ever shy away from leading you, educationally speaking, from what is best for our students. Period," Lubelfeld said. "I'm also very, very mindful and responsible and very, very caring and protective of our staff."

While the district does not have a legal obligation to offer every parent the chance to opt into a fully remote option without demonstrating a need, Lubelfeld said it did have a moral one.

District 112 will also offer before school programs for the half of students in the morning group and after school programs for those in the afternoon group, the superintendent explained.

"We're making this very, very difficult recommendation with a heavy heart, knowing that it is very impactful on our families and very impactful on our staff," he said. "And it does not take child care and put it at the forefront, and we know that, we acknowledge that, we regret that."

Students will be asked to bring two masks to school every day, and face coverings must be worn at all times. District officials said teachers will provide brief lessons at the start of the year about mask-wearing and cleaning, and parents and guardians are encouraged to teach their kids about facial covering ahead of the start of school.

For the first month of school, district staff will bring in portable air conditioning units and rent at least two large outdoor tents to allow for outdoor learning spaces protected from sun and bad weather.

The board is due to continue discussions of the reopening plan at a committee of the whole meeting Tuesday evening. The district has provided a detailed list of answers to frequently asked questions.

Earlier: Highland Park, Deerfield Districts Plan For Return To School