Many D-86 Students Keep Cameras Off While Remote

DARIEN, IL — Many Hinsdale High School District 86 students keep their cameras off when they are attending class remotely, an official said last week. This is something that many parents apparently did not realize.

Next semester, the district plans to change its Zoom protocols for Central and South students. They will be required to keep their camera on during class, unless they get waivers, said Christopher Covino, assistant superintendent for academics.

As it stands, only a quarter of students are allowed on campus at a time for in-person classes because of the pandemic. So teachers deal mostly with students who are learning remotely.

"The majority of our teachers report that when their class pops up, they have a lot of black screens," Covino told the school board last Thursday. "You can imagine what that can do for morale when you have a bunch of black screens. Sometimes when you're speaking to them, they don't even respond."

Covino said that when some parents were told this, they were surprised.

"They texted their students right away and asked if they were on screen," he said. "Their responses were mixed."

Next semester, students can get permission for off-screen accommodations, Covino said. Officials are planning to provide a form for the waiver. The district, he said, "absolutely" acknowledges reasons exist for such accommodations.

Board member Cynthia Hanson said keeping cameras on is believed to increase student engagement.

"Some of the students' concerns were being on public display or their home environment being on public display," Hanson said. "If they have a camera on, they don't want to be the only one with their camera on."

In an email to Patch, District 86 spokesman Chris Jasculca said the district has no set of reasons or criteria for students to seek accommodations.

"They will meet with their dean/social worker to discuss the request and possible solutions," Jasculca said. "All decisions about accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis."