La Grange District's Parents Split On In-Person Learning

LA GRANGE, IL — Parents In La Grange School District 102 are almost split down the middle on whether to continue the status quo of in-person learning for the rest of the school year.

According to a recent district survey, 47 percent of families supported the current learning model, in which students attend half days five days a week.

The rest, 53 percent, preferred changing that learning model. The district did not ask further questions about how they would like to see that model changed, but it's likely the respondents favor full days of in-person instruction.

The survey results from the elementary schools and Park Junior High are nearly the same. Parents of kindergarten through second grade students support changing the learning model in slightly higher majorities.

The survey received nearly 2,800 responses, with 134 missing, a response rate of 95 percent, according to the district. The survey was sent March 1 to March 4.

Two weeks ago, the school board had a passionate debate over whether to increase in-person learning. One member fought back tears as she questioned the idea of full in-person days before the district received more information. Changing to full days, she said, could cause "upheaval."

Another board member, however, said the "larger upheaval" was the status quo.