More Questions Than Answers In Dist. 218's School Reopening Plans

OAK LAWN, IL — The superintendent of CHSD 218 updated school board members on plans to safely reopen the district’s three high schools next month. District officials anticipate having a plan to share with students, parents and the community around July 24.

“It’s a mess,” D218 Supt. Ty Harting told the board at their Monday meeting. “I wish this were firm and I could tell you that this is what we’re doing, and everybody who really wants answers has some answers. We don’t feel like we can do that today.”

In the thick of planning how to safely reopen the district’s three high schools in the middle of a pandemic — Eisenhower, Shepard and Richards — district officials and task force members are leaning toward a blended model, where half the student body comes to class on alternating days and other half works remotely at home.

>>> D229 Leaning Toward Blended Learning Model For Fall Reopening

All students would be learning remotely from home on Wednesdays, which would be reserved for students coming to school who need additional academic help or social support, staff development and deeper cleaning of the building. The district is also entertaining having all students starting off the year remotely for two or three weeks and then segueing into a blended world.

“I think it will be good for kids to get in-person instruction,” Harting said. “Our priority is keeping students and staff safe, and right behind that is education and how do we best educate our kids.”

Classroom instruction ceased in March, when coronavirus began surfacing in Illinois. Schools must follow guidelines from the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has left it up to school districts to some up with their own reopening plans, handing down guidelines June 23. The state stands firm on following face masks and social distancing requirements.

Students with medical conditions or immunocompromised family members will still have the option of full-time remote learning at home. Older staff members, including teachers, may also continue teaching remotely.

No decision has been made on how the student population at each school will be divided, whether it would be split by grade or alphabet. District officials have also not figured out a blended schedule.

More than 3,000 parents responded to a district survey asking for input into reopening plans. Harting said responses were all over the place, from parents wanting their children to return to the classroom and other parents were apprehensive.

Dist. 218 is also bolstering its remote learning program to make it more suitable for long term online learning.

“The virus hasn’t gone away,” Harting said. “I know that people’s feelings and perceptions play a role. Emotionally people are becoming more scared by the day. It’s like a drumbeat.