Parents Urge District 203 To Return To Full, In-Person Learning

NAPERVILLE, IL — Dozens of Naperville Community Unit District 203 parents spoke at Monday's Board of Education meeting, openly challenging the competency of board members while urging the district to return to full-time in-person instruction.

Citing other school districts that have reopened full time, in addition to challenges students face with e-learning, parents took to the podium one by one and called for greater transparency from district officials.

Calling the District 203 board members "completely out of touch," Lauren Person said, "We are here because of your inadequacy, non-transparency and a complete lack of communication."

"It is a travesty what you are doing and you better make a change because people are going elsewhere," Person said.

Jenny George, mother to a District 203 student and alumnus said, "this board, this superintendent and this community have failed our kids."

Another district parent, Jason Moderi, said, "Do you think you're saving lives with this approach, or are you just trying to save your political careers?"

Moderi likened e-learning to a prison and the school board to a prison parole board before calling on each board member to immediately resign and promising to hold board members accountable in the upcoming April election.

Moderi said, "I came here tonight to blast you for being epic failures at your job and for failing our kids."

He added, "If you won't act, we will elect those who will, and with any luck none of you will ever hold any public office in the future."

Public attendance at the meeting was limited due to social distancing guidelines, leaving some parents waiting outside Naperville Central High School without an opportunity to speak, one parent told Patch via email.

Regarding the parents who were waiting outside the meeting, District 203 spokesperson Sinikka Mondini told Patch, "Naperville has been adhering to the capacity limit of 50 people at our Board of Education meetings. This typically leaves around 25 spots available to the public. It is our practice to not exceed the 50-person limit in our school buildings and to not mix cohorts of people. We are accepting public comments via our Let’s Talk platform and I encourage those that were not able to speak to submit their comments in writing for the Board to review."

After shifting to e-learning at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, District 203 adopted a hybrid learning plan in early 2021. Currently, most students attend class in person on select half-days throughout the week and complete the remainder of their instruction online, with Mondays being fully remote.

At press time, 71 percent of District 203 students are enrolled in a hybrid learning model, whereas 29 percent of students are enrolled in a fully remote learning model.