New Trier Administrators Plan To Present Reopening Plan In Person

WINNETKA, IL — New Trier High School administrators said they plan to share a comprehensive reopening plan at a special school board meeting on campus next week, following two weeks of remote special meetings called for closed-door discussion of negotiations with employees.

The board last month unanimously approved a provisional plan to offer a hybrid of in-person and remote learning options to families, starting with a week of remote learning Aug. 26 and gradually moving from 25 percent of students to 50 percent by the end of September — as long as "operational feedback and outbreak status go as planned."

Since then, the board convened in executive session for a pair of special meetings held over video teleconferencing software in order to talk about collective negotiating matters or salary deliberations involving the district and its employees, or their representatives.

Thursday's closed-session discussion was also set to feature deliberations involving security procedures and the placement of students in special education programs or other matters involving individual students. Such discussions exempted from requirements to hold public meetings under Illinois Open Meetings Act.

The only public portion of the either meeting was the 30 minutes devoted to public comment. Written remarks submitted to the remote meeting by parents, staff and alumni indicate the most vocal elements of the community have deeply divided opinions regarding reopening plans.

Superintendent Paul Sally said he worried passion, anxiety and fear were dividing the community at a time it needs to stick together.

"We may have different opinions about the best path for educating our students, with so many uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, but if we focus on compassion for each other and truly listening we will be a community that is stronger together than standing apart," Sally said, reading a prepared statement before the board recessed into closed session Thursday evening.

"We must have a plan that has a path to get students back in the classroom, and we must also have a plan that will protect health and safety of our students," the superintendent said. "We're committed to in-person instruction, and we are committed to health and safety for all. The path to achieving both of these is not easy and it's not clear, but I ask for your compassion as a community as we work together toward these common goals."

At the first such meeting on July 29, Sally explained several dozen people had submitted comments about reopening, although not all were read out load to the board during the time allocated.

"There were 22 that were basically in favor of hybrid and in-person, there were 23 that [favored] remote," Sally said. "And there were three others that were either questions, prioritizing seniors or IEP students as their priority or just on the fence understanding the difficulty of the decision."

There were 43 comments submitted from the public ahead of Thursday evening's special meeting, according to Lindsey Ruston, Sally's assistant and secretary to the board. Sally said there were 30 that favored remote, eight that favored in-person learning and the rest about other things. (Patch has requested copies of all the public comments provided at both special meetings. This post may be updated as more information is received.)

"In addition to the comments that you've heard, we've received many emails from parents and community members we hear the passion in all those messages as well," Sally said. "Thank you, we hear you, we hear all of you."

Parents and guardians have until Aug. 15 to opt for entirely remote learning for the first quarter, which runs through Oct. 30. The option to choose between hybrid and a 100 percent e-learning will be offered at the beginning of each quarter, administrators said in a list of answers to common questions.

"The size of our school and the complexity of our offerings makes this a time-consuming process," it said. "When the hybrid schedule is fully implemented, students will be assigned to either Attendance Group 1 (in school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) or Attendance Group 2 (in school on Thursdays and Fridays)."

Students in the same family will be assigned to the same attendance groups, with most Mondays all remote to start the year. Students with specialized learning needs will be part of both groups to allow for the maximum amount of instruction in school.

New Trier and Lake Forest high schools are the sole north suburban public high school districts on track to offer any in-person instruction in the first quarter of the 2020-21 school year. The final version of the reopening plan is set for approval at a special meeting Wednesday.

"This plan will include clear steps toward reopening and what factors the District will take into account to be able to move between these steps," administrators said.

Teachers unions have publicly warned of strikes if they find safety precautions insufficient, and Chicago Public Schools on Wednesday announced plans to remain remote through at least November. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday's decision was not prompted by reports the Chicago Teachers Union planned to hold a strike authorization vote.

Earlier: New Trier COVID-19 Reopening Plan Approved By School Board