Parents Blame Dysfunction Board For Failure Of Virtual Learning

OAK CREEK, WI—This week a group of parents sent a letter to the Superintendent and the Board of the Oak Creek - Franklin Joint School District urging the leaders to open school on January 26 and asking for better cooperation among the Board members.

“Since October, discussions about reopening schools in any capacity have stalled due to the absolute refusal of the majority of our elected school board members to compromise on behalf of our children to provide some degree of in person learning. The Oak Creek School Board is in a state of disrepair. Relationships among members are fractured. Apparent polarizing political beliefs of specific members have impeded this group’s ability to move forward,” the letter stated.

The group wants the Board to call an emergency meeting on December 7 in order to vote to open schools on what would be the first day of the second semester.

“Many children in the OCFSD are not doing well at all with the virtual schooling option. Sadly, many parents believe that our school district is failing our students. This is not due to lack of effort of teachers. This is because learning at home is not working,” the letter stated.

The parents also explain a potential plan for opening schools. The full letter can be found here.

The Superintendent of the school system told Patch the Board has been discussing a number of the issues highlighted in the letter received Wednesday.

“They continue to review our school and community experience with COVID, review and discuss various proposals, options, and considerations, and continue to discuss how and when to move from remote instruction to face to face instruction,”Daniel D. Unertl, Superintendent of Oak Creek/Franklin Schools, told Patch.

So far, no special meeting has been scheduled.