At the District 87 school board meeting, over five concerned residents and/or parents approached the board with public comments about critical race theory and masking of students, which was mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education. Before public comment a new science curriculum was proposed. A curriculum that includes District 87’s “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” subcommittee support and training.
New science curriculum
Heads of the middle school science department Marsha Veninga and Josh Jett presented the new curriculum to the board on Monday, May 26. The current textbook used at D87 is 13 years old and Veninga said in 2014 Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
“This really was a vision for what science and engineering education should be for students K-12, and it included a number of shifts that was very different from the way we’ve been teaching science and the way students have been learning science,” said Veninga. “Those shifts included an interconnectedness between disciplinary core ideas, the content we are use to, but also cross-cutting concepts. The best way for student to learn science is to do science.”
Jett said the books currently in use are focused in disciplinary approach, where students look at one specific branch of science. Now with the NGSS curriculum the department is working towards an integrated approach where students wouldn’t focus on just one branch of science each year, but all branches throughout the year.
Jett and Veninga called for the purchase of this curriculum at $333,000 over seven years. This is a lump sum that includes curriculum amenities for up to seven years.
“This curriculum has been tested around the country and has been found to be effective for students and teacher,” said Jett.
Veninga said this curriculum stood out because it meets the diverse needs of all learners.
Veninga said this curriculum is compatible with Google classroom, teachers can edit assessments, professional development and is rooted in the integrated approach. The science department decided that this is the best approach.
“It is hands on,” said Veninga. “It is inquiry based and they’re going to labs and investigations. It was intentionally developed with a DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) focus. DEI was of huge importance to all of us. Not only are the units developed with thought in the names, pictures, stories and images that are reflective of all the students in our district, but also the best way we can teach our students to become scientist is to actual function as a scientist. It is centered around engaging real world phenomena, which the NGSS tell us to do.”
Critical race theory
Now, some parents have concern about what DEI focus means. There are three subcommittees that are not open to the public that meet monthly to work “with the community” on social issues. Parents are on the committees. The three subcommittees include: Human Resources Subcommittee, Curriculum & PD Subcommittee and Listening and Learning Subcommittee.
District 87 superintendent Barry Reilly said anytime they are adopting curriculum materials that they are sensitive to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“We want to get multiple eyes on those, we want to make sure that they represent all kinds of kids,” said Reilly. “We want to make sure our library books, if I’m a kid and I go into the library I can be able to get a book where I can see someone who looks like me in that book. We want to make sure we have a diverse representation within our curriculum… that’s going to take time. A true reality with a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force is it is like school improvement. It never ends. This is never going to go away, it may evolve and it may have new goals as time goes on but we are approaching it in those three area because we believe that that’s where we can make the best progress.”
Reilly said there are about 75-85 members in these committees and they plan to rotate them.
One public commenter was concerned about her kids coming home with the idea that Abraham Lincoln did not free slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation. She also shared concerns that critical race theory ideas were being taught in D87 schools.
“My jaw hit the floor when I was told by a group of 4 kids that Abraham Lincoln was a racist, he didn’t really free anyone, our entire country is based on stealing land and built upon the backs of slaves,” said one parent.
“Critical race theory, I think there is confusion on where it is actually taught, that’s actually taught at the university level and in the training of teachers. I think some people that that is taught directly to kids and that isn’t the case,” said Reilly.
Reilly said the public comments were not a representation of the community and were not a true reflection of what the District’s belief system.
Masking
Masking is going to continue for D87. Public commenter and single mother Brein Huffman said masks could have a financial impact to the district.
According to ISBE, in-person school is mandatory. Flanagan-Cornell Unit 74 and Red Hill CUSD #10 have already announced optional masking despite IDPH and ISBE guidelines.
“We can’t continue to hide behind these organizations anymore,” said Huffman. “These are guidelines, they aren’t laws or mandatory expectations. You all are elected officials with obligations to the people and children you serve. Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Iowa and areas in Missouri have dropped the mask mandates and I ask that you follow suit and let our kids breathe.”
Yesterday, May 25, the Illinois State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala sent out a directive that all schools are to continue with mask mandates through the summer and fall of 2021.
Reilly said as time goes on there will be webinars and updates sent to superintendents. He said he will share that information with the board to promote out to parents and families.
