By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
Elmhurst School District 205 Superintendent Dr. David Moyer released a communique to parents and other school stakeholders last week indicating the District’s plan to proceed with opening in the fall.
His message follows:
“The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Leadership Team and Board of Education continues to support the Open D205 Plan as the best path to instruction and learning this fall. Within the scope of the plan, 85 percent of parents have resoundingly chosen in-person instruction to start the 2020-21 school year. (Survey information is available at the District 205 web site.)
“As previously communicated, however, we must stand ready to make adjustments to plans when the learning environment is compromised due to changes in the health landscape or the District’s ability to deliver quality instruction.”
Not enough teachers committed to report for work; start of school may be delayed
“As of [Aug. 7], D205 does not have a sufficient number of teachers who are committed to report to work on August 24, 2020, in order to fully support any form of in-person learning. We are committed to ensuring compliance with ISBE, IDPH and CDC guidance for a safe return to in-person learning, and equally committed to allaying the ETC’s concerns related to the District’s ability to adhere to health and safety regulations and guidance. To this end, we are negotiating with the ETC, and we are making every effort to get the ETC leadership to commit to criteria for returning to in-person instruction if possible.
“The D205 Board will meet on Aug. 11 to discuss potential solutions, including a possible delay to the start of the school year. Tuesday, Aug. 11 is a regularly scheduled meeting for the D205 Board of Education. The session will be live streamed via YouTube at 7 p.m.
“Delaying the start of the school year would afford the District more time to secure the staff necessary to properly supervise students and support its instructional programming. The District will make a concerted effort to hire the requisite number of additional employees but cannot guarantee that it will be able to achieve this goal. Therefore, multiple options will be discussed by the Board on Aug. 11.
“Additionally, based on the number of families selecting in-person instruction in grades K-5, the District will not be able to provide daily in-person instruction at that level and maintain the requisite 6-feet physical distancing recommended by ISBE. (For an example of one of the physically-distanced elementary classrooms, visit the District 205 web site.) Therefore, students in grades K-5 will have to switch to a hybrid model of instruction. Madison Early Childhood Center will remain in-person as originally outlined in the Open D205 Plan. Programming requests for four days of in-person instruction for IEP and EL students will be accommodated if possible.
K-5 parents choose remote over hybrid learning
“Due to this change for grades K-5, D205 is allowing any elementary parent who is interested in switching their choice from remote to hybrid learning until Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 5 p.m., to make that request. If possible, the District will accommodate these requests. Per Illinois State Board of Education mandates, if a family at any grade level wishes to request a change from the hybrid model to remote learning, such requests will be granted. In either case, please contact your child’s school to request a change.
“We are deeply disappointed at this latest roadblock to moving forward with the Open D205 plan. We understand the cost to the school community when a decision of this magnitude is delayed, and we will continue to work as expeditiously as possible to successfully start the school year. Please be assured that we will not hesitate to move to all-remote learning if local medical professionals deem it unsafe for schools to reopen. We remain firmly committed to Open D205 this fall, and we know our community does as well.”
Dr. David Moyer
Superintendent
Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205
Additional updates from District 205
Interscholastic Athletics
Boys/girls golf, girls tennis, boys/girls cross country, and girls swimming and diving will be offered per Illinois High School Association (IHSA) guidelines, consistent with Governor Pritzker’s recent declaration, provided that conditions and/or future guidance from the State of Illinois or related agencies or governing bodies allow for these activities to continue. Likewise, consistent with high school guidelines, cross country will be offered at the middle school level.
York High School will begin fall sports on Friday, Aug. 17. An update from the high school with additional information will be forthcoming next week.
Substitute teachers needed for the 2020-21 school year
D205 is currently looking for substitute teachers for the 2020-21 school year to help fulfill the Open D205 Plan. Consider becoming a substitute teacher as well as becoming certified to be a substitute teacher in the State of Illinois and applying for a position in our District.
If you have questions, please contact Director of Human Resources, Helen Romios, at [email protected].
