D70 Looks At October Return For Its Youngest Students

Lake Forest IL

23 September, 2020

7:20 AM

Description

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — District 70 is looking at bringing back some of its students starting next month. During a meeting on Monday, the school board heard recommendations from advisory committees, which include teachers, nurses, school board members and administrators, regarding their findings on how students can safely return to school amid a pandemic. Many District 70 parents and students, like parents and students across the suburbs, have been pushing for in-person instruction. Headaches over keeping kids on task with remote learning, balancing their own work while assisting with e-learning and the better quality of education and social aspects provided in the classroom are among the reasons suburban parents want to see students back in school. District 70 Parents, Students Rally For In-Person Instruction Meanwhile, many parents have said their concerns and desires regarding their children's education have not been heard. Results from an August survey, which included responses from 1,505 District 70 parents, found that 77.2 percent would opt for in-person instruction while 22 percent would pick remote learning. On Monday, hundreds of parents took part in a rally outside the district headquarters prior to the school board meeting. "We want to definitely demonstrate that parents are still overwhelmingly supportive of sending children back (to the classroom) in person," said Evan Williamson, who was among those at the rally " … We know e-school is not an acceptable long-term solution. It's barely an acceptable short-term solution." Follow Libertyville Patch on Facebook Meanwhile, District 70 Superintendent Matt Barbini said school officials have been listening. He's hopeful schools will begin to reopen next month, but a final decision has not yet been made. "We continue to be in a pandemic where no treatment or cure exists. I know that eSchool is challenging for many of our students and families. The community has shared these challenges with me," he said in a statement. "They are real and I am experiencing them firsthand as a parent as well." He said the superintendent's reopening advisory committee has "been working diligently on behalf of our students and are deserving of our thanks." Metrics, Elementary School Subcommittees Findings Under guidance provided by state health officials, District 70 is on track to return under a hybrid model, members of the district's metrics subcommittee has found. As of Sept. 17, the incidence rate of COVID-19 in Libertyville was 9.8 people per 100,000, according to information shared at the Monday school board meeting. Under guidance provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health, an incidence rate between 7 and 14 is among the factors that should be considered when looking at a hybrid approach. The subcommittees are recommending elementary school students return before middle school students. The elementary school recommendations are expected to be voted on at a special board of education meeting in early October. The middle school recommendations could be approved in early October or at a meeting on Oct. 26. Here is a look at what type of schedule the elementary school subcommittee is suggesting for elementary students: In-person small group instruction for 2 hours and 15 minutes at a time — either with a morning group or an afternoon groupArt, music and physical education would be completed remotely each day And here is when students could return to school if these recommendations are approved: Oct 26 for kindergarten and first gradeNov. 2 for second and third gradeNov. 9 for fourth and fifth grade The hybrid approach will allow classrooms to be disinfected daily while both groups are out of the buildings and will also allow for smaller class sizes, according to District 70 officials. Middle School Reopening: Group Explores Hybrid Options The middle school reopening subcommittee is still working through the kinks of a more complex schedule than the recommendations for elementary students, according to District 70 officials. Currently, the group is looking at a hybrid schedule where students will have in-person instruction on designated days each week while other days will be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning when students are at home. Middle school students could return for in-person instruction on Nov. 17. Moving Forward ... District 70 will allow families who want to stay in eSchool to continue to do so. In addition, all agendas and minutes moving forward from the subcommittee meetings will be posted on the District 70 website. Families can send their thoughts about reopening to the superintendent's reopening advisory committee at [email protected]. While emails will be reviewed, members of the committee will not respond, according to district officials. The subcommittees will provide their recommendations to Superintendent Barbini who is expected to make his recommendation for reopening, at least at the elementary level, at a special meeting in early October, according to District 70. The school board is also expected to vote on his recommendation at that meeting. A decision on the reopening of Highland Middle School may come at the meeting in early October or at a school board meeting on Oct. 26. Survey Results: Majority of D70 Parents Want Kids Back In Schools Here is a look at the recent results of a survey, which included more than 1,500 responses from District 70 parents: 77.2 percent of students would attend in-person if offered, 22 percent would not attend in-person and would take part in remote learning and the remainder would not take part in D70 education. 95.5 percent of District 70 students have masks they wear and are practicing to useD70 buses will have up to 50 students on each bus this fall. 30.5 percent of students plan to ride the bus, 30.2 percent will not ride the bus and parents will transport them to and from school and 33.3 percent said it was not applicable since their child does not ride the bus to or from school. The full survey results can be found online. For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Libertyville Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. 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