1,000 Signatures: District 86 Needs To Put Kids Back In Classroom

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet grade school parent has garnered more than 1,000 signatures for her petition to reinstate regular classroom learning for the more than 10,000 Joliet children who attend District 86. District 86 Superintendent Theresa Rouse, with the backing of her school board, decided last month that her students will remain on remote learning for the entire school year.

Now that the petition is underway, hundreds of angry parents and constituents are taking to social media to sign the petition launched this week by Joliet parent Jennifer Wysocki.

Wysocki has two children and she and her husband want them back in school.

At 7:30 p.m., more than 1,000 people have signed the Change.org petition.

Wysocki's plan is to get the District 86 to reconsider its January decision when the board meets March 10.

Rouse, who makes $234,000 and has four assistant superintendents, announced in January that District 86 will not have any regular classroom education for this entire school year.

District 86 has remained on remote learning programs since the pandemic of last March. At no point this current school year have District 86 students been inside their regular classrooms for learning.

Here's a sampling of comments from people who have signed Wysocki's petition to bring back in classroom learning for Joliet Public Schools District 86:

From Julie: "My heart breaks for the children in Joliet. Although, I don’t live in Joliet, I’m invested in the community as a USF grad. Get those kids back to in-personal school. I’ve been teaching in person since August. I’m about 100 miles from Joliet. It can be done!!"

From Marlo: "As long as the school can have a safe environment for the kids I think it should be open for in school learning. At least give the parents the option to send their kids if they choose too."

From Jennifer: "My two girls have been miserable and quality of online schooling sucks; I imagine the teachers feel the same."

From Cheryl: "There is zero reasons why Joliet is lagging in getting kids back in school. The school system is failing these children academically by refusing to open for the children. When is enough enough? Open the schools, these kids are already behind a whole grade level. Half a day on chrome book is not doing anything for them."

From Gino: "The unfortunate aspect is the inflexibility of District 86. It further feeds the perpetual negative stereotype surrounding communities have for Joliet. For the age group served, K -8, increasing evidence shows this group is the most vulnerable."

From Marianna: "My children miss their teachers, friends, and routine normalcy."

From Lenore: "I am a district 86 bus driver and parent! I was shocked that first they didn't respect us enough to pay us during this year. Then more shocked when the decision to shut the whole year down so early without even TRYING!"

From Julie: "I am a student And I have been very stressed And losing myself please make so we at least have the choice to go to school."

From Michelle: "Kids are way behind and not getting the proper education they need. Little ones need to be in school. My 7 yr old can barely read sight words or count. My husband and I work 8 hours a day too, we can't do this."

From Danielle: "My daughter is 8. An only child. Doing well in e-learning but socially and emotionally struggling."

If you want to sign the petition called "Open Joliet District 86 schools for in-person learning," go here.