D-205's 'Wasted' Wednesdays A Problem: Officials

Elmhurst IL

28 October, 2020

10:42 AM

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ELMHURST, IL — Whether York High School students are back in class or not, their Wednesdays are always remote. That day, no time is set aside for classes. The day is designed to let teachers give more help to students who need it. But school board member Courtenae Trautmann said she sees it as a "wasted" day for students. District administrators seemed to agree. During Monday's school board meeting, Trautmann said she would like to see York High School follow the example of local middle schools: Add class time to Wednesdays, though shorter periods than other days. Trautmann said she understood the idea behind the plan for Wednesdays, but she said more structure would help. "I think we have wasted two months of noninstruction at the high school level, and I don't understand why we keep working on it," she said. Assistant Superintendent Scott Grens said Wednesdays were a "work in progress" and that the district was anticipating a "holistic revamping" for the second semester. Trautmann said she wanted more urgency. "You know I love you, Dr. Grens, but this is what we've heard for the last two months: We're working on it," she said. "I feel like that there are great meetings. Everyone acknowledged it needs to change and it needs to be structured. But you pivoted mid-term for middle school and gave some instructional minutes on Wednesday. I'm frustrated that cannot happen now (for the high school). Why can't we pivot now?" Grens said the district heard objections to the pivot at the middle schools and that the district needs to ensure there is a balance. As it is, he said, 70 percent of students were using Wednesdays as intended. Superintendent Dave Moyer agreed a problem existed with Wednesdays. The district, he said, is aware of the urgency to make changes. "I personally don't think we're going to have to wait two, three or four months before we see positive movement. It's important that we do more than acknowledge the problem," he said. Board member Jim Collins had a personal take on the issue. "My kid must be in the 30 percent minority," he said. "I don't see a lot going on on Wednesdays, except for the afternoons when she fills out a college application occasionally." Here are some of the latest stories about reopening D-205: Elmhurst D-205 Union Says School Reopening Plan Will Fail D-205 Touts This Key Change For Remote Learning D-205 Sticks To Schedule, But With Key Change Enough Staff For Elmhurst D-205? District 205 Sees Wave of Resignations See Which Elmhurst Areas Backed In-Person Lessons Most D-205 Gives No Clarity On In-Person Learning D-205 Rejects Most Employees' Remote Requests When Do D-205 Middle And High School Students Return? Coronavirus Exposure At York High School: Official All D-205 Students Back In School By Oct. 5: Official York High First Of Its Kind To Reopen In DuPage: Official Coronavirus Exposure At York High School: Official The Number Of Virus Cases In Elmhurst Schools Fewer New Virus Cases In Elmhurst Schools Elmhurst Schools Going Fully Remote: Official Protest Planned At Elmhurst School Board Meeting What Will It Take For D-205 To Reopen?