Following is the full text of the speech delivered by Board president Kara Caforio:
“It is November—eight months since the shutdown, and while each of us has had our unique experiences during this time, there is one commonality. We have all lost something or someone. We, as fellow community members and parents, understand the demands of working, parenting and trying to support the education of our children during this pandemic. Just like you, we too, are holding our children when they cry from the disappointments and frustrations that this worldwide pandemic has delivered. And we share the health concerns and challenges our current reality has created.
“As a community, no matter what we have personally lost, we have collectively lost many of the long-held traditions, normalcy, camaraderie and experiences that our public schools have been providing for decades. It is a loss we all share deeply, and it is a loss worthy of grieving.
These past eight months have challenged us as a community, and definitely as a board of education. As a board, it is our responsibility to oversee the education of our 8,500 students. This pandemic has added the immense weight of the physical and mental health and safety of our 8,500 students, and our 1,500 staff members. Each one of those 10,000 people need to be physically protected to the best of our capabilities, mentally supported to the best of our abilities, and provided with the resources to continue the high quality of education we expect, even during a global pandemic.
“In March, we moved the entirety of our public school operations to a remote setting within two weeks, and 10,000 students and staff began teaching and learning remotely.
“In April, by the governor’s order, the school year was set to end with remote operations, and no in-person celebrations or goodbyes.
“In May, the school year ended with non-traditional celebrations, and we had to recognize that the road ahead was going to be much longer than originally anticipated.
“In June, the work of replanning the 2020-21 school year was in full swing, while still awaiting guidelines and restrictions from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health. In July, the board of education reviewed and unanimously approved the Open D205 Plan, which placed a priority on in-person instruction, and the framework with a commitment for moving in and out of the three possible modes of instruction throughout the school year: full in-person, hybrid and remote; depending on defined health and safety metrics. An Open D205 web page was launched as well, to include all information, FAQs and updates based on additional guidance.
“In August, our teachers completed intensive professional development as they worked to shift our traditional instructional models to now include both remote and in-person teaching and learning, and our students began their school year remotely.
“In September, District 205 began bringing small groups of students into our school buildings. This helped ensure safety protocols were effective and allowed students and staff to adjust to the new look of school, and the D205 COVID Dashboard was launched.
“In October, District 205 welcomed the final groups of students into our buildings, and we remain incredibly proud of the teachers and administrators who stepped up to meet the challenges and provide our students with an opportunity to learn in our classrooms.
We are now in the midst of a local and statewide surge in COVID-19 cases that is much higher than when we returned students to the buildings in September, and in accordance with our metrics-driven approach outlined in the Open D205 Plan, and discussed in prior board meetings, we have paused our hybrid model and returned to a full remote schedule.
“To our students: it is important that you know in this moment, that the anger and frustration that you are seeing played out in our community is because you are cared about so very much. We all want the best for you and are absolutely heartbroken that you are sacrificing so much. There is light at the end of this tunnel, so hang on, and in the meantime, try to work hard and share some kindness.
“To our community: we want you to know that we are listening. We have read and considered the hundreds and hundreds of messages and comments you have sent us. We care deeply for your children. Our administrators care deeply. Our teachers care deeply. We are united in the grief you have expressed, and we share your anger that it should not have to be this way, and we are as frustrated as you are with the uncertainty of the future, so while varying opinions abound, our commitment remains steadfast to provide the best possible education to our students always, but especially during a pandemic, while supporting the physical and mental health of our students and staff, and our community.
“Every two weeks, and sometimes in between, the board and administration spend time reading and listening to the comments from our community, followed by hours of discussion around the challenges upon us. Tonight, we will continue this work. This community is like no other, and it will be our collective care and strength that will get us through this time of crisis.”
