Reopen Schools: Multi-District Rally Planned In Naperville

NAPERVILLE, IL — Parents from nine school districts will come together Sunday in Naperville to rally for schools to reopen for in-person instruction full time.

The "Cross District Rally to Reopen" will kick off at 11 a.m. at the corner of Webster Avenue and Douglas Street near Washington Junior High School. The rally will continue to the Riverwalk's Free Speech Pavilion, where keynote speakers will include ex-Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul G. Vallas, Illinois State Senator Darren Bailey and radio host Amy Jacobson.

The rally will include parents and supporters from the following school districts:

• Hinsdale Township High School District 86
• Community High School District 99
• Plainfield School District 202
• Naperville Community Unit School District 203
• Indian Prairie School District 204
• Kaneland Community Unit District 302
• St. Charles Community Unit School District 303
• Geneva Community Unit School District 304
• Oswego Community Unit School District 308

Sara Forster, a District 203 parent, is one of nine parents who came together to organize the rally. Forster told Patch she and the other parents, who come from many of the participating districts, started corresponding in October to "share news and notes" from their respective districts.

Forster said she and other parents noticed a pattern while comparing notes. “None of our school boards in these districts have come up with a plan to get students back five days a week," Forster told Patch.

Forster mentioned that it's been nearly a year since students began fully remote instruction due to the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Currently, most students in the districts represented in the rally are attending school on a hybrid schedule, meaning they attend a varying schedule of in-person classes part-time during the week. The remainder of instruction is done remotely.

Forster noted that some school districts have committed to a goal of reopening fully come fall, whereas others are still hesitant for even a fall reopening.

“We’re in the same boat, and we’re talking to each other, and we’re ready to see some movement from some of these local school districts," Forster said.

Citing reasons in favor of reopening, Forster said a number of teachers have been vaccinated and children contract coronavirus less frequently. She also cited recent dips in coronavirus infections and deaths throughout DuPage County and surrounding areas.

Additionally, Forster noted that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) updated itspublic health guidance as of Tuesday. Per the new recommendations, proper social distancing is defined as anywhere between three and six feet between masked students and fully vaccinated staff.

"That’s really great news," Forster said.

"I think a lot of people got the idea that maybe we needed to be cautious at the beginning of the school year," Forster said. She added, "There’s [now] a much wider understanding of things that we can do to be safe."

Forster told Patch she's looking forward to coming together with like-minded parents and supporters to show the community why they believe it's important to get children in back in classrooms full-time.

“Children need school. They’re really suffering," Forster said, "It’s integral to the fabric of how we work.”

What: Cross District Rally to Reopen

When: 11 a.m. March 14

Where: Starts at Webster Avenue and Douglas Street, then moves to Free Speech Pavilion