Fed Up: Chicagoland Superintendents Finally Push Back On Gov. Pritzker

In open letter, frustrated big school districts ask for guidance from state on re-opening schools

(Photo Credit: Quad City Times)

In a handful of days, July 1, the calendar officially flips over and we begin the 2021-22 school cycle.

As the clock ticks closer to the beginning of the next school year, with so many public health questions unanswered, Illinois school superintendents are still waiting on guidance from the state.

Finally, they are mad enough to do something about it.

In a letter obtained by The Kerr Report, addressed to the Illinois State Board of Education and signed by superintendents from the Large Unit District Association (LUDA), members strongly urge ISBE for updated guidance on opening up schools for 2021-22 which for most, is in less than two months.

The letter, dated June 21, states “while there are a number of concerns about current guidance related to implementation in the fall” it focuses on “two primary points.”

Those two primary points are categorized in the letter as “Quarantining” and “Social Distancing.”

Here are pages one and two of the four-page letter that addresses those categories:

First “Quarantining” as written in the letter:

The current guidelines, if not modified, will create significant issues in the fall. Our schools have had very few cases of documented COVID spread. There have been thousands of students quarantined this year and the in and out of in-person school has been very disruptive to our students’ education. In most cases, when students were quarantined in the past year, our schools had remote learning options in place for them. With the return to full in-person learning next year, those remote options will not exist in the same way. In many cases, quarantined students will be taught with homebound instruction, which does not equate to the time and quality they received from remote instruction. When considering the cost/benefit of both health and education, we do not believe the current quarantining guidance is most appropriate for our students.

Next, “Social Distancing” as written in the letter:

Under the 6-feet social distancing guidelines, it is impossible for most of our schools to operate at 100 percent capacity. Using 3-feet social distancing guidelines, full capacity is possible in most cases, but only with significant modifications. Those modifications include, but are not limited to, items such as different furniture (desks instead of tables), completely redesigned lunch procedures and new student bell schedules.

The letter goes on to request two “action items from ISBE” that asks for school procedures to be aligned with current public health recommendations in “Phase 5 as applied to other venues in Illinois.” In some of the strongest language yet from those in charge of Chicagoland schools, the letter states how “we request that full guidance from ISBE for the fall be issued immediately.”

LUDA is a Bloomington-based association for K-12 school districts with enrollments of at least 3,500 students. On it’s website, it lists 52 members, ranging from schools in the southern tip of the state, East St. Louis, to as far north as Waukegan Community School District 60, located in northern Lake County. Membership also includes big enrollment Chicagoland schools located in Barrington, Naperville, St. Charles and Elmhurst.

In an email response to questions from The Kerr Report, LUDA Executive Director Dr. John Burkey said of the 52-member organization, “most of our superintendents signed the letter.” The leadership transition in some districts prevented all from signing.

The letter specifically addresses quarantining and social distancing but otherwise does not refer to public health policies that impact schools.

Burkey said that was by design.

“The purpose of the letter was not to address each individual health guidance issue, but rather make the point that we support coming back to school fully in person in the fall, but we need guidance that will permit that to happen,” Burkey said “We have a lot of respect for the role of the health experts in Illinois and their determinations regarding what is safe. But, we believe that guidance should be consistent with the guidance governing all the other places our students and staff attend in Illinois.”

Part of the motivation from LUDA in composing the letter is concerns over re-opening schools to full-time physical attendance under standing guidance. In May, ISBE issued a resolution that schools must be open full-time for in-person learning.

By the conclusion of the 2020-21 school year, when there were no restrictions on students opting in to remote learning, LUDA schools had an in-person attendance rate of 70-to-80 percent, according to the letter.

In its May resolution requiring schools to be in person full time for the 2021-22 year, ISBE put significant limitations on qualifying for remote learning, stating it be only for “those not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and are under a quarantine order by a local public health department or the Illinois Department of Public Health.”

With an expected uptick in students attending in-person classes this fall, schools are not prepared to handle live enrollment increases under current guidelines and “need the guidance and tools that will permit that to happen,” said the letter.

The timing of the letter is not by accident. With upcoming school board meetings throughout the state scheduled in the coming weeks, how schools interpret state public health recommendations are expected to be front and center at every meeting this summer.

On masking in schools, an especially quarrelsome topic, the current guidance from Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois Department of Public Health and ISBE is unclear.

In the latest guidance dated May 24, ISBE wrote this in a Q&A section on its website addressing masks in schools for the 2021-22 school year:

As stated in the Governor’s announcement on May 17, “In line with CDC guidance, the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health require masks in schools. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services requires masks in daycare.” ISBE will continue to work closely with the Governor’s Office and the Illinois Department of Public Health to stay consistent with CDC guidance

But in guidelines released as part of the state’s entry into Phase 5, that began June 11, the state distinguishes between recommendations for “fully vaccinated” and “not fully vaccinated” individuals:

All unvaccinated persons should wear face coverings in crowded settings, both indoors and outdoors, especially when youth are present. See CDC guidance for further information.

There are limited circumstances and settings where all individuals, including those who are fully vaccinated, must continue to wear a mask in accordance with CDC guidance: (1) on public transportation, (2) in congregate facilities, (3) in health care settings, and where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

What’s missing from the Phase 5 protocols is more specific guidance on in-school masking for the vaccinated and non-vaccinated. IDPH refers to “individuals in schools, day care settings, and educational institutions should continue to follow separate guidance issued by the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and Illinois Department of Public Health.”

But the most recent guidance from those agencies on masking is from the May 24 Q&A from ISBE.

It reads like an old fashioned can-kicking contest.

So what is it? With so much buck passing, all that remains is confusion and uncertainty.

The LUDA letter refers to masking in schools only once and does not include the word “vaccine.” Another intentional decision, according to Burkey.

“Given the complexity of this issue, we attempted to make the letter as concise and to the point as possible,“ he said. “The letter does not specifically address masks or other specific points of guidance, but the intent of the letter is that our schools should operate under the same general guidance as Illinois as a whole, unless there is a compelling reason for something specific to be different in schools.”

One signature on the letter is that from Dr. Kelley Gallt, superintendent of Lake Zurich Community District 95, located in Lake County. On the agenda for the district’s June 24 board of education meeting is the LUDA letter and another letter addressed by “State of Illinois Local School District Superintendents” that includes many of the same concerns of the LUDA letter.

Is it possible D95 or other districts could act on these issues independent of guidance from state heath and education agencies?

Highly doubtful, according to Burkey.

“Students' health and safety is of top priority for our districts. Additionally, it is  important that we get students back to school full time in the fall. Our superintendents, and other educators, are professionals who can balance these two needs when given the proper guidance and tools to do so,” Burkey said. “As far as action at upcoming board meetings, our districts are always in collaboration with their respective legal counsels regarding state guidance and where they have individual flexibility to act.”

So don’t expect any fireworks before July 4th.

But if Pritzker and his public heath attendants continue to drag their feet on releasing updated guidance?

All bets are off.

The ball is now swiftly rolling down Interstate 55 towards Springfield.

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, media inquiries and more, drop note to jon@jonjkerr.com, or @jonjkerr on Twitter.