A 'Major Disappointment' At LTHS This Year

La Grange IL

25 October, 2021

9:04 AM

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LA GRANGE, IL — The head of the teachers union at Lyons Township High School said last week that technology has been a "major disappointment" this year. "The lack of consistent available technology has negatively impacted instruction and the students," Andrew Johannes, president of the Lyons Township Education Association, told the school board. This year, he said, technology coaches are performing tasks that the help desk has historically handled. "From a teaching perspective, everything has gotten worse and more cumbersome," Johannes said. "Everyone is forced to use ClassLink, and we don't see the benefit. We are hopeful that the upgrade in broadband will alleviate many of these issues that we're experiencing." On another issue, Johannes said the staffing shortage has been particularly bad for the special education division this year. Specifically, the division has struggled to find aides. "Every day, the special ed group must address the shortage, which is creating huge work inequities that we hope can be addressed and alleviate the stress felt in that division by all," Johannes said. "Some special ed teachers have reported feelings of being isolated and not belonging, so we hope we can address that and kind of bring them back into the fold." Patch left a message Monday morning with a school spokeswoman about whether the school saw technology and the staffing shortage in special education as problems. On other issues, Johannes praised the school's handling of the homecoming dance. It was postponed after police found two guns in a car on campus. Johannes also said the union agreed with the proposed calendar for next year and the development of a strategic plan.