D140 Parents Petition Against School Plan: 'Beyond Frustrated'

TINLEY PARK, IL — The back to school plan Kirby School District 140 has caused a stir of responses among its members.

The district is offering two learning methods for students in the second quarter. These include a combination model of daily in-person instruction and remote classes, or a completely remote option, according to the district.

The combination model would include an A/B schedule, meaning students would be divided into two groups. Group A would attend in-person in the morning for 2.5 hours and learn remotely at home in the afternoon for 2.5 hours. Group B would learn remotely at home in the morning for 2.5 hours and attend in-person in the afternoon for 2.5 hours.

Parents are signing a GoFundMe petition stating the school should revoke the newest plan, and allow students to fully return to school grounds. Petitioners argue the new plan doses not accommodate working parents.

Kevin Duffy, one of the creators of the petition, said this post is not "anti-teacher" and that the school is not listening to the parent's obstacles in the way of elearning.

"I don't understand the disconnect between working parents and the school," Duffy said. "This program doesn't work for a lot of people. We would get messages and phone calls in the beginning about the plan, and now it's almost like radio silence."

Duffy said his wife, Jennifer, who is also a teacher, has received backlash online for stating that the plan does not help parents work and tend for their kids.

"I come home every day and my kids are crying," Duffy said. "We live 1.4 miles away from the school and are unable to have our kids come home on the bus, because the requirement is 1.5 miles away. The bus isn't free because of 0.01 miles. When we reached out to the district, they told us to stick to elearning. They don't care."

As of Friday morning, the petition has received 358 signatures, with a goal of 500. The petition was created by Kevin and Jennifer Duffy, addressed to the district's Board of Education. The Duffy's said parents and students are "beyond frustrated."

"ELearning has placed on our families; mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. Our poor children have not seen their teachers, their friends, or their classrooms since mid-March and their education is suffering," the petition states. "ELearning was never meant to be a substitute for in-person learning. Many districts are returning to full in-person learning and it is time for District 140 to follow suit."

The couple said the learning plan displayed for the next quarter is going to make problems not only for parents who work, but for parents with other small children. They also said lack of bus accommodations makes things even more complicated, by forcing many families to acquire a fully remote learning model.

"There was no survey as promised. There was no choice or board meeting to vote in a plan," the petition states. "I appreciate the attempt in opening the schools, but doing so in a way that is not conducive for the majority families is simply not good enough. We demand better!"

What are your thoughts on this back to school plan? Let Patch know.