Breaking: Pritzker Suspends In-Person Studies For Remainder Of The School Year
Update: IFT Statement on order
Updated to include letter from District 49
Gov. JB Pritzker has suspended the in-person studies for the remainder of school year during an announcement Friday afternoon.
“I know there are some who said this was inevitable,” Pritzker said. “But this is a decision that I have not made lightly.”
District 49 Superintendent Mike Brink said in a parent letter Friday afternoon that remote learning will continue to take place through the rest of the school calendar.
“While this is certainly not the news that we were hoping to hear, Nashville #49 will make every effort to continue to provide learning opportunities for the students through a variety of digital platforms and traditional methods,” Brink said in the letter. “We appreciate all of the help and support that parents have provided up to this point. We ask that you continue to encourage your child to participate in the learning activities to the greatest extent to possible.”
The last day of the Nashville #49 school year is Tuesday, May 19, and the free food program will continue to operate through this date. Information will be sent out in the near future to parents and guardians about how the district will handle the return of textbooks, library books and computers. There are also several student items left at school that need to be returned.
Brink reiterated in the letter that parents can contact the school with any questions and concerns. “We very much look forward tot he day when all of this is behind us, and we can get the kids back in school,” he said.
Tonight Nashville Community High School will light up its football and baseball fields at 8:20 p.m. for 20 minutes to honor the class of 2020.
Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery released the following statement after Governor J.B. Pritzker announced there would be no more in-person instruction for the remainder of the year due to COVID-19:
“We applaud Governor Pritzker‘s bold and compassionate leadership during these difficult times. Closing school buildings for the rest of the year is the right thing to do. As we have seen, no one is immune to COVID-19 and this will ensure the safety of our teachers, staff, students, and community. Under these difficult circumstances and with limited resources, educators have been doing what they love – teaching and engaging our children remotely while adjusting to the new normal. As this pandemic has made abundantly clear, there are vast economic, educational and healthcare disparities existing in our poorest communities, especially in our Black and Brown communities. Many of our students lack laptops and internet access, which prevents them from learning. This is compounded with economic insecurity. As educators and unionists, we remain committed to working with our members, elected officials, and policy advocates to address these inequalities and level the playing field for our working and lower-income students and families.
“Local unions and members of the Illinois Federation of Teachers will support students and their families in every way possible during this time.”
The Nashville News will continue to update this post as more information becomes available.
