LTHS Union On Official's Statements: 'Not True'

LA GRANGE, IL – The head of Lyons Township High School's teachers union on Monday disagreed with a top official's statements about the union's reaction to the new grading policy.

At last week's school board meeting, Scott Eggerding, the director of curriculum, said he was disappointed the union did not air its concerns about the grading policy to the committee that is handling the issue.

He also suggested some teachers opposed the policy because they don't want to change.

At Monday's board meeting, Andrew Johannes, president of the Lyons Township Education Association, said the union has gone to the committee, known as the "grading implementation team," with its views. The statement indicating otherwise, he said, was "not true."

He also addressed Eggerding's statement about change.

Scott Eggerding, director of curriculum for Lyons Township High School, listens to a statement from Andrew Johannes, president of the teachers union, on Monday. Johannes took exception to Eggerding's statements from a week ago. (David Giuliani/Patch)

"To suggest that teachers are resistant to change just because is not accurate," Johannes said. "The teaching profession is in a constant state of change. For evidence, just look at the past three school years. During these three pandemic years, teachers were constantly changing to meet the needs of their students."

Johannes said change is difficult, messy and doesn't always go according to plan, especially with the grading policy. He noted Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire took a decade to fully carry out its grading changes.

Revising such policies, he said, means a change in philosophy for many teachers. To lessen stress, the school should provide teachers with supports and training, he said.

"Teachers are more than willing to make changes as long as they understand why it is occurring and how it will benefit students," Johannes said.

He proposed an expansion of the grading implementation team to include more teachers, an idea that Eggerding and other officials appeared to accept.

The grading changes include the elimination of homework as a factor in grades, which many parents oppose. The policy also allows retakes of tests and eliminates extra credit, among other things.

School officials say they want consistency in grading across campus.