The District 301 school year starts in less than two weeks, but some teachers continue to be concerned about the cleanliness of the schools and the safety of bringing students back on a part-time basis.
At this week’s school board meeting, district officials detailed some changes to District 301’s reopening plan, the biggest of which is calls for elementary students to attend a half day of classes in person every day.
Students in preschool through fifth grade will be in school for two-and-a-half hours either in the morning or afternoon, depending on their last name. Art, music, social skills, health and physical education will be done remotely when students are at home.
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Remote-only students will have a dedicated core teacher that will work with them in live or pre-recorded classes, according to the plan.
Middle school and high school students will do a hybrid school week of two days in person and two days at home. Wednesdays will be a remote learning day for all students.
Members of the Central Education Association union said things may not work as planned — at least from the perspective of cleanliness — given the district still has to hire seven new custodians before classes resume Aug. 31.
“I believe safety is a major roadblock,” Prairie Knolls Middle School teacher Meagan Reed said in a statement read at at the Monday board meeting.
Central High School teacher Susan Zagorski said her concerns center on the fact that some personnel were not wearing masks when she was at the school.
“This has been brought to your attention on several occasions, yet educators continue to reach out with this concern and feel unsafe in buildings even before students return,” she said.
“Time is running out, and our students deserve (to be safe),” Central Education Association President Dave Chapman said. The union represents 296 teachers, guidance counselors, and speech and language pathologists in the Burlington-based district, which includes a portion of Elgin.
Superintendent Todd Stirn attempted to ease some of the concerns, saying the district is not filling seven existing custodian jobs but adding seven new custodians to the district staff.
They’ve also purchased 34 electrostatic disinfectant sprayers and each school will have its own full-time nurse, according to the plan.
“I’m proud of (the cleaning/disinfecting team’s) work, I’m proud of their accomplishments and their many countless hours,” Stirn said. “I want to thank (them) for how beautiful the interiors of the buildings look.”
He added the district is taking the extra step of having its reopening plan submitted to Kane County agencies for review, and will make changes as recommended.
Things are a little more complicated for the high school reopening plan in regards to class options.
“Due to the complexities related to re-engineering a high school schedule, unless we are able to integrate remote learners with the in-person students, the district would be forced to cut a minimum of 40 courses and revise at least 600 student schedules, resulting in most students not receiving the elective, honors or AP courses that they chose, need or desired,” the reopening plan said.