Sixty pages of public comments were read into public record at Monday’s Naperville District 203 School Board meeting as parents continued to lobby for the start of in-person classes.
District officials have delayed the start of a hybrid schedule because of the resurgence of COVID-19 cases. The decision was made in accordance with guidance from local health departments, which have advocated that schools remain closed to slow the virus’ spread, officials said.
That position has not sat well with some parents, who fear their children are being hurt academically and emotionally by not receiving in-person instruction and not being able to interact with their friends.
About 40 parents submitted comments for Monday’s meeting, which were read into the record because social gathering restrictions have forced the board to return to a virtual meeting format. A majority of them were from people demanding their children be returned to the classroom.
“We’ve already withdrawn our third-grader from the district,” wrote Amanda Mullarkey, whose children attend district schools. “His academic needs were not being properly addressed before the pandemic and it became clear to us that they would not be met online.
“Our kindergartner wants nothing more than to have friends and attend school,” she said. “It’s been nine months. The guidance to open safely is out there.”
Even with statements being cut short after they reached the three-minute mark — the time limit set for in-person comments at board meetings — it still took more than an hour to read all that had been submitted.
“Community members have expressed a desire that they be able to hear these messages as a part of our board meetings and all will now be read aloud,” board President Kristin Fitzgerald said. “In future meetings, our ability to read all email messages aloud will be determined by the number of comments received.”
Last month, Superintendent Dan Bridges announced most students would remain in remote learning until late January. The only exceptions are preschoolers, students in specialized programs and those who need intervention.
In her statement, parent Angie Schiltz said she is willing to risk having her children in school two days a week if it means they’re able to see their teachers and friends again.
“The decline in their mental health and education needs to be at the forefront,” Schiltz wrote. “The district has had nine months to develop a plan to resume school safely and the fact that most haven’t stepped foot in school is appalling.”
Carrie Grapenthin, parent of two District 203 students, said she wants officials making the return to school a top priority.
“When the email came before Thanksgiving that the earliest kids would return is Jan. 25, I hoped so much that it meant the district would be spending every minute between now and then coming up with actual detailed plans and telling parents about them, Grapenthin wrote. “Don’t waste this time, please.”
However, not everyone who submitted a comment favored in-person classes. Jefferson Junior High teacher Jennifer Nekolny said she knows students are being exposed to the coronavirus through contact with friends and extended families.
“We listen as our kids tell us they are flying to visit grandma this weekend or a colleague says they are hosting Thanksgiving or a family is welcoming a college student back home,” Nekolny wrote.
“We know they will then return to our classrooms and bathrooms and gyms and libraries and common spaces as potential asymptomatic carriers,” she said.
Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Christine Igoe said there are no plans to return to in-person classes before the end of the year. When school resumes after winter break, she said, all students will spend the first week in remote learning before transitioning to hybrid instruction on Jan. 25.
As of right now, DuPage County’s overall weekly case count and youth weekly case count are at the moderate level of community transmission and the weekly positivity rate has decreased, Igoe said.
“While we are excited to see the numbers trend down, we are still experiencing significant community spread,” she said.
Bridges said more details on the return-to-learn plan will be provided at the Dec. 21 board meeting. Results of a recent public survey on how the switch to block scheduling has been going for secondary schools will also be discussed, he said.
Families are also again being asked to confirm if they want their children enrolled in an all-remote program or to make the switch to hybrid learning, Bridges said.
The district website’s frequently asked questions page will be updated soon to address some of the upcoming changes, officials said.