The unique challenges of the upcoming school year
Drinks & Dialog August 25, 2021 Meeting Summary
The League of Women Voters of Roselle/Bloomingdale hosted a Drinks & Dialog event to discuss various topics concerning returning to school with COVID 19 still an issue for the public at Wolfden Brewing in Bloomingdale on Wednesday, August 25, 2021.
Our invited guests included Dr. Jeff Feucht, Lake Park High School District 108 Superintendent, who kicked off our discussion with a brief, but informative presentation on the Illinois PaCE Framework, an individualized learning plan to help make decisions about career and post-secondary education or training. A Lake Park parent in the audience asked Dr. Feucht asked how Lake Park was responding to the needs of quarantined students.
Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, Superintendent of the DuPage ROE, explained how the pandemic has caused trauma for many students. For those without a stable home environment, the interruption in their schooling, their most reliable portion of their days, has caused harm, mentally and physically. This led to a discussion on bullying and how this means of acting out needs to be researched for the root cause. The ROE has a detailed document that explains how bullying behavior is addressed in DuPage County schools.
Parents from District 12 questioned how the grade schools were supporting quarantined students, particularly those for whom English was a second language. Guest, Matt Wood, who is the DuPage County Civics Instructional Coaches for DuPage County and facilitates professional development for middle and high school civics/social studies teachers in this region, has three young sons of his own at home. He shared how teaching from home during COVID with his kids also online learning was a challenge.
Dr. John Bartelt, Superintendent of Bloomingdale District 13, explained how his district used COVID relief dollars to provide tutors for students. One Medinah mom commented how she planned to bring this idea back to the Medinah School District at their next meeting. Dr. Bartelt shared a positive note that came out of the pandemic: two 5th grade students asked to present a proposal to him on making Diwali a district holiday. He was so impressed with their research and passion, he has invited them to bring their proposal to the next school board meeting.
Dr. Mary Henderson, Superintendent of Roselle District 12, explained how her district stepped to the plate to support students last year. She mentioned that D12 stayed open all last year. She also discussed the district’s Return to Learn plan which follows the Illinois Department of Public Health and DuPage Board of Health requirements.
Steve Zurek, Roselle District 12 Board of Education President, commented on the need for school districts to capture the knowledge gained in operating during the COVID-19 pandemic through creating Pandemic Response Manuals. These would allow school districts to draw on knowledge already gained so that workstreams can be funneled to the appropriate administrators, facilitating more proactive responses which will maximize focus on continuing to educate children in a safe and healthy school atmosphere.
An impending storm shortened the group discussion at this outdoor event, but further conversations continued in Wolfden's taproom, and front porch.
Mission accomplished...great civil discussion on a critical topic.
For more information about the League’s events and monthly meetings, please contact Roberta Borrino at (630) 283-2894. This League event was free and open to the public.
