District 181 Settles On In-Person Plan In Split Vote

HINSDALE, IL — School District 181, which serves elementary and middle school students in Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills, decided Monday to resume full in-person learning April 5.

In a split vote, the school board approved the in-person plan. The district's surveys show a majority of parents wanted a return to full in-person learning this semester, while staff overwhelmingly did not.

District 181 has been using a blend of in-person and remote learning since the beginning of the school year, with a full remote option. That is known as a hybrid model.

In a presentation, Superintendent Hector Garcia told the board that the district's hybrid model has been "highly successful" and that coronavirus trends were headed in the right direction.

Officials told the board that local students' growth compared to other school districts across the country was stronger than it was at the same time last year.

A parent survey showed that 62 percent of District 181's families wanted a return to full in-person learning with a remote option. The rest chose the current system.

Late last week, the district's staff was asked how it felt about the hybrid and full in-person models, given current coronavirus metrics and trends, staff vaccine distribution and surveillance testing information. In response, 83 percent said they favored the current system, while 4 percent wanted a return to full in-person learning.

Board President Margaret Kleber proposed the district wait another two weeks before making a decision

"I feel a full in-person reopening could jeopardize mitigation efforts," she said.

Kleber also said she had reservations about different social distancing requirements among the schools. And she said feared outbreaks may happen if students return April 5, which follows spring break.

She proposed reconvening the district's transition committee, which is made up of a variety of stakeholders.

A majority of her fellow board members disagreed. They voted 4-3 for full in-person learning starting April 5.

The majority consisted of Nathan Lucht, Sinead Duffy, Sarah Jakobsen and Bill Cotter. Kleber was joined by Meeta Patel and Sheetal Rao.

After the vote, Kleber said, "Sometimes we don't agree, but it's OK. We all have the best of intentions and want what's best for the students."

In a mass email Tuesday, Superintendent Garcia said the district would send an enrollment form as soon as possible to all families to help solidify classroom numbers and space expectations.

He also said the district would move forward with coronavirus surveillance testing to identify asymptomatic people.

District 181 employees who wanted vaccinations got their first doses last week. The second doses are planned for early March.