1 • Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 - The Elmhurst Independent
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THURSDAY, AUG. 6, 2020
Teacher’s Council upset about D205 plans to reopen school year Survey reveals most teachers feel unsafe; disappointed in School Board’s response
In addition, teachers in District 205 pointed out these other conditions in their letter: • Twenty-four percent (24%) of D205 teachers are over the age of 50. About half of these teachers are due to retire within the next six years. • Seven percent (7%) of our teach-
ers are pregnant or married to someone who is pregnant. • Most importantly, fifty-four percent (54%) of Elmhurst teachers either personally have underlying medical conditions that increase risks associated with COVID-19, or are caring for family members with
underlying medical conditions. “If we pause to reflect on that result, a majority of teachers (more than 350 individuals) are at high risk for complications from COVID-19 or have a family member with those higher risks,” the ETC’s letter to District 205 read. “Unless we are
prepared to let more than half of our staff work from home, then we are attempting to launch a school year in which a huge proportion of teachers are anxious or downright terrified for their families’ safety. Nothing good
See SCHOOL, Page 21
By Dee Longfellow FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
CHRIS FOX PHOTO Elmhurst Independent
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A player for the Elmhurst Rays slides into base, hoping to beat a Cardinals player, who is hot on his trail. It was part of the Elmhurst Baseball and Softball League’s Bronco Division game on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 1 at Plunkett Park. The Rays went on to defeat the Cardinals 15-8. More photos in Sports.
Inside:
Police Reports...........6 Sports ��������������� 18-20 Viewpoint.................8 Classifieds..............17
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As the District 205 School Board debates the best way to reopen for the 2020-21 school year, the Elmhurst Teacher’s Council (ETC) has spoken up about the fears that its members face in the attempt to return to a “normal” school environment during the current struggles with COVID-19. The ETC sent a letter to the School Board on Monday, July 20. The Independent spoke with Max Schoenberg, president of Teachers Council Union, about those fears. According to Schoenberg, the ETC does not feel comfortable about the response from the District 205 School Board, which was received Friday, July 24. “The School Board plan calls for bringing all students back to the Early Childhood Center and our elementary schools,” Schoenberg told the Independent. “With the class sizes we could expect, it would be impossible to maintain social distancing. Other districts have tried it but you could only fit maybe seven or eight students in a classroom.” Another concern, according to Schoenberg, is lunch safety. “Kids have to take their masks off to eat, so how spaced apart can they be?” he said. “Where are they going to eat? York High School has hundreds of students—1,500 on campus at a time, even at half capacity. Who’s going to supervise them? Who’s going to make sure areas are sanitized?”
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