Give parents time to choose school plan

As a former member of the Barrington CUSD220 Board of Education, I wish to voice my concern about the district's plan to reopen schools this fall. The Roadmap for Reopening presented at the July 14 board meeting offered our parents, students, and community a flawed and dangerous plan for August. Parents were given 10 days, until July 24, to choose from one of two choices. Either you subjected your child to a full five-day week in school or distanced learning. No discussion of a hybrid model was offered. Sadly, I never heard the reasoning behind that choice, which I believe to be essential to understand the efficacy of any plan. All scientists and doctors recognize the continuing presence of the coronavirus and its ability to spread among school populations. We do not offer adequate space for our population of over 3,000 kids in the high school.

Time is needed to gauge the virus' spread, and I don't believe that the onus of deciding should rest on the parents to make an ill-conceived choice within a short window of time. I am hopeful that a more responsible position will be taken or I fear for our community.

Jennifer Buehler

Barrington