D-86's Latest Plan For Reopening Schools

HINSDALE, IL — Hinsdale High School District 86 plans to begin in-person learning for up to a quarter of students by the week of Oct. 5. But some are wondering why it's taking longer in District 86 than in other places to bring students back.

At Thursday's school board meeting, board President Kevin Camden said he had received emails asking why Hinsdale is still remote, yet others, including Hinsdale's School District 181 and private schools, have already begun a blend of in-person and remote learning. He also noted that many are saying the school district in Elmhurst is proceeding more quickly. That district expects to have in-person learning for every grade level by Oct. 5.

After Camden asked about this issue, a number of people in the meeting room — presumably supporters of starting in-person learning — loudly clapped.

Related story: D-86 Student Leaders Speak About Reopening Plan

Prentiss answered that elementary school students stay in one classroom for much of the day, while high schoolers rotate classrooms throughout the day, coming into contact with a far greater number of students.

"The only way you can get around that is a one-room schoolhouse," Prentiss said. "That means we would take students' choice of content. So if we want students to take classes they signed up for, we would remain a traditional high school where they are rotating around and going to classes they choose."

As for private schools, Prentiss said Hinsdale Central and South have greater enrollment. While she said classrooms are ready for socially distanced, in-person instruction, the sheer number of students means a higher probability that students will get the coronavirus.

Prentiss revealed at the meeting that the district planned to bring back special education students starting the week of Sept. 21. Then the district will work toward resuming in-person learning for up to 25 percent of students beginning the week of Oct. 5.

"If we are able to achieve these milestones, we will pursue bringing additional cohorts of students on campus in the weeks that follow," Prentiss said in a later statement.

She promised to provide more details about the reopening plan at the board's Sept. 24 meeting.

Meanwhile, cases of the coronavirus have been going up among DuPage County residents under 20 the last couple of months, Prentiss said.

"With this in mind, we ask our families to please partner with us and local health officials to ensure that our students are taking the necessary steps and precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19," the superintendent said.

According to a district survey, about 90 percent of families want in-person learning to start.