District 225 Will Start School Year With Remote Learning

GLENVIEW, IL — Admitting things will look "significantly different" from last spring, the Glenbrook District 225 Board of Education informed parents Monday the 2020-2021 school year will begin with an e-learning format. The first day of school for Glenbrook South and Glenbrook North is scheduled for Aug. 19.

Citing state mandates that limited the district's ability to deliver a "high-quality E-Learning experience," the announced new model is part of a four-step plan. The first step includes the following guidelines:

• Students will follow a structured schedule with required synchronous learning experiences as part of every class as new content is introduced by teachers. Additional tiers of academic services will be available as needed to support student success and well-being.
• Assessments will be delivered, due dates will be enforced, grades will count, and attendance will be taken.
• Students will be expected to activate their camera when participating in synchronous e-learning.
• Athletics, extracurricular and co-curricular activities will be available through a combination of on-campus and virtual participation opportunities based on guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education, Cook County Department of Public Health and applicable Illinois High School Association requirements.
• The district states it will implement a social-emotional learning curriculum, integrated into PE and Health courses, that will address essential topics, such as creating a collective community; building resilience; coping with anxiety, fears, and stress; and accessing resources and supports.

"While it is going to look drastically different from what we all know, we are confident in our ability to start strong on August 19 and to deliver high-quality, meaningful and engaging academic and extracurricular experiences for all students throughout the 2020-2021 school year," the district said in a statement. "We are committed to excellence in the 4 A's: Academics, Athletics, Activities, and the Arts."

The Board also announced Monday it has approved tentative budget for 2020-2021. The proposed balanced budget projects $144,758,042 in direct expenditures. Included in the proposed budget is a one-time transfer of $1,500,000 from the Operations and Maintenance Fund to the Capital Projects Fund to support approved facility modernization, including upgrades to the nurses' office at each school, according to a press release.

Related:
Arlington Heights District 25 Will Start School Year With Remote Learning
School Reopening Tracker: Illinois' Second-Largest District Will Start Remotely