We also recognize that the information we are receiving will continue to change over the next six weeks prior to school beginning. It is safe to say that there will not be a perfect plan created, but our promise is that whatever plan is determined for schooling for next year will be well executed.
We have two priorities that have permeated each and every conversation.
- How do we keep our children safe, including consideration of the social-emotional strain that this pandemic has placed on them and their families.
And
- How do we best educate our children adhering to recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Governor’s Office.
Three foundational resources are being used to guide our Return to Learning group’s decision making. First, we are following the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) current guidance documents which can be found at https://www.isbe.net/
Second, we surveyed all district families and gathered the following information:
- 625 parents responded to our survey, representing over half of our unique District 142 families, from each of our four District schools. Further, each and every grade level from PreK-8th grade students were very well represented in the results..
- 75% of our parents would like their children to return to school, understanding that PPE and physical distancing are currently required
- 36% of families eligible for transportation would rely on bus service to transport children to school, understanding that PPE and physical distancing are currently required
- 98% of parents have sufficient Internet access at home if Remote Learning is necessary
- 191 thoughtful, helpful comments from parents were received and taken into consideration ahead of important decisions being made
Third, the District surveyed all teachers and staff members:
- 98.9% of District 142 employees responded that they are able to return to work
- 77% of District 142 employees reported that they are willing to remote teach if needed, even if in-person learning is occurring for some students
- 53% of staff would prefer to come to school over teaching at home, if we are Remote Learning again
To digest and make sense of this information, the District’s Return to Learning group has recently met twice to discuss this information and has committed to meeting throughout July to make recommendations about what schooling may look like in August for our students. As these meetings continue and guidance from the State is refined, we will continue to keep our school community informed.
As another form of communication, as we continue to engage in conversation, Forest Ridge School District 142 will be holding a Community Update online on July 16 at 7:00pm. District Administrators will be talking through our current planning process and also answering pre-submitted questions from parents. In order to submit questions, please use this link: Return to Learning Questions.
Again, thank you for participating in productive, positive, and meaningful conversations about the schooling of our Forest Ridge School District 142 students. We look forward to serving you!