CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- In-person learning returned Monday to Consolidated High School District 230 in the southwest suburbs.
There are about 7,500 students enrolled in Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Stagg High School in Palos Hills, and Andrew High School in Tinley Park.
Twenty-five percent of them, about 1,900 students at a time, will be allowed to attend in-person classes one day a week, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. The other days and Wednesday, they’ll learn remotely.
Related
Parent Amelia Baer hopes everything goes well.
"I know they’re taking it slow and I know they’re taking it to be on the safe side of precautions, so I’m being patient, but hopefully they go back full time," she said.
Baer's daughter, junior Hannah Baer, said she’s “kind of” looking forward to being back in school again. COVID-restrictions are behind that feeling.
"They said we can’t really talk to anybody inside the school and we have to try to get to classes a little bit faster," she said.
Still, Hannah Baer said being in-school will make it easier to ask questions without in-home distractions by younger children.
Andrew High School senior Michael Bobber is glad to be heading back to in-person learning, even if it will only be for one day a week with the other four days being remote learning.
"I’m excited. It’s going to be nice to get back in the building. It’s been a while and I’ll get to see some friends again. It’s going to be fun," he said.
Bobber endorses the cautious way District 230 administrators have resumed in-person instruction, but he has some issues with "remote-learning".
"We’re trudging through it, but it’s not what anyone wants, but you have to do what you have to do," he said.
Parent Jeanette Schmidt has opted to keep her daughter home and not take part in in-class instruction.
"We’re remote learning.....I just don’t want to get COVID. I’m too scared," she said.
District 230 administrators hope to eventually have students at Andrew, Stagg, and Sandburg high schools do two-days a week of in-person instruction once area COVID rates go down further. There’s been no suggestion when that might be.
There’s big interest in getting students back into classes. Supt. James Gay said a recent survey found 70 percent of parents said they would like to see their children back in school.