D-205 Superintendent's Message Angers Parents

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst School District 205 sent a mass email to parents Monday saying the school board would vote on a plan Tuesday on returning students to in-person learning five full days a week on April 12.

That seemed like a far cry from an email sent four days before, in which Superintendent Dave Moyer seemed to give a different message.

In that email, Moyer said District 205 was committed to developing plans for five full days of in-person instruction starting in the fall.

"Simultaneously, we are continuing to ensure that all students at the middle and high school level have the opportunity to return more frequently and consistently to in-person learning this semester," he said.

At a rally outside the district's office Tuesday, participants said they took the email to mean that there was no chance for in-person learning five full days a week this semester.

Speaking at the rally, organizer Michael Booth spoke about the Thursday notification that "we will not be opening full time and that we're still hoping to open full time in the fall. For this semester, it will be hybrid learning, Zoomed to death."

The audience of dozens shouted, "No!"

"I've got to admit that took the wind out of our sails, but at the same time, we said this rally must happen today," he said.

Then he said the notification on Monday about the vote made some people think that a rally was no longer needed.

Booth said he thought otherwise.

"Just because they're going to vote on it doesn't mean they're going to vote yes," he said.

The Monday email said the announcement on the vote aligned with Moyer's previous messages indicating the direction for the rest of the semester would be announced at Tuesday's board meeting.

Moyer typically does not unveil the district's latest in-person plans until board meetings.

The rally was organized by Reopen D205, which runs a Facebook page with about 1,500 members who are pushing for more in-person learning.