District 102 Schools to Close for March 2014 Primary

The District 102 School Board voted Thursday to shift a teacher institute day from Jan. 21, 2014, to March 18, 2014, so students will not be in the buildings at the same time as voters.

Whether this kind of schedule shift becomes permanent, however, is still up for discussion.

Board President David May said the district would re-evaluate next year whether to keep students out of the buildings during future elections.

The district’s Leadership Council recommended canceling classes on election days after parent Susan Ragaishis presented her concerns over student safety when so many strangers are going in and out of the building.

Ragaishis told the Tribune in March that the Sandy Hook school shootings in December heightened her fears. She started a petition that got 145 signatures from supporters. 

There are three election days during the 2014-15 school year, which prompted board concern that it would be difficult for parents to accommodate that many days off.

“If you end up with three random Tuesdays off, a lot of kids will be unsupervised at home,” board member Jennifer Comparoni said.

Other board members said that kids would miss out on an important civic lesson if they don’t witness the voting process.

Board member Joyce Fitch was not convinced.

“I’m pretty sure it’s not a civic lesson,” she said, adding that she would trust the leadership council’s recommendation since they are more involved with the situation.

All board members except for May voted for altering the 2013-14 calendar.

Ragaishis said she was disappointed that the board did not address the situation for the long term.

“If we have to come back to this every year, you really have to put a concerted effort into asking the community,” she said. 

The next District 102 School Board meeting is schedule for April 25 at Park Jr. High.

Earlier:

• District 102 to Discuss Making Election Day a School Holiday
• Polling Places in Schools: Readers Speak Out