By Leslie Hurtado

As District 99 and schools across the country consider reopening amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, July 15 was met with over 250 educators, staff, and community members who called into the meeting to voice serious concerns about safety and the district’s ability to implement Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

“Why are we not considering other options, especially since Cicero is ranked [at the top] for the highest number of COVID-19 cases in suburban Cook County?” asked Tracy Vana, an educator at Roosevelt School. “Instead of spending so much time focusing on how to make [CDC] guidelines work, we should be focusing on students’ learning,”

District 99 is made up of 16 schools in Cicero and serves approximately 11,270 students according to their website. Cicero was amongst the first suburbs to require face coverings in essential businesses and is now considered a hotspot. As of Tuesday, July 21 Cicero has 3,197 residents who tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“Let me tell you, I've been on the board a long time and I've never seen 250 people at a board meeting, especially 250 people that are very concerned about what's happening,” said Larry Polk, the District 99 Board of Education Vice-President. “As you all well know...I am a police officer in town. I am well aware of the COVID-19 dangers. I am also well aware of the other dangers that we as policemen are presented daily, but we show up to work every day.”

Monique Brandonisio, a Cicero kindergarten teacher called Polk’s statement a “dangerous comparison” of occupations.

“I think it must be said that we cannot compare a teacher to a policeman, where a [policeman] expects to lay down his or her life,” Brandonisio said. “Teachers are not expected to lay down their lives or risk their lives while they do their job. Our job is to educate, and our job is to take care of the well being of our children.”

Polk said board members have not decided on whether they will reopen schools or what safety measures will be put in place if schools reopen, but he is sure educators and students will be safe.

Kim Poleski, a teacher at Cicero East Elementary School, said teachers were asked to fill out a survey on their concerns on the board's reopening plan, but some teachers did not know where survey submissions went. She also mentioned that there have been very few educators and community members who have attended the school district board meetings.

“I think the concern from a lot of the teachers and families in the community is that we don't necessarily feel that we have been included in the decision,” Poleski said.

Polk replied to Poleski and said that educators are included in the board’s decision making and surveys have not all been calculated or returned “by any stretch of the imagination.”

“We are going to make sure that voices are heard,” Polk said.

Educators are concerned about not being provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to combat the coronavirus, according to Nicole DenHamer, a special education teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.

DenHamer teaches high-functioning autistic students and worries that her students will not be comfortable wearing masks daily. She expressed that her students will need extra care and resources to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“I don't expect the students to keep [their masks on] for long periods of time, as well as with the [physical education tools], masks, desks and computers where educators have to help them touch their devices,” DenHamer said. “How many days will cleaning take place? How often will it happen?”

Rachel Esposito, an elementary teacher at Unity Jr. High and President of West Suburban Local 571, the union which represents District 99 educators, also asked the school board questions on how staff and students will return to classes safely.

“I have seven virtual meetings with the district administration where I watch adults sit in the same room with each other without wearing masks properly and not following the CDC guidelines that are supposed to prevent the spread of the [COVID-19 virus],”Esposito said. “How are kindergarteners supposed to follow [CDC] rules if our own adults can’t?”

Many educators spoke on the need for safety equipment, educational resources and accommodations for students, but one social worker who introduced herself as Mrs. Rodriguez said reopening schools can impact a student’s mental health if they see the detrimental effects COVID-19 has on their peers and educators.

“Apart from the mental instability students would experience if [schools reopen], instead of teachers going over educational material, children will have conversations on death and [COVID-19] risks,” Rodriguez said.

According to an executive order signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in June, schools across the state will be able to reopen in the fall. However, schools will be required to enforce new restrictions in an attempt to keep students safe from COVID-19.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released a 63-page document that outlines safety guidelines that includes requiring students and staff to wear face coverings, observing physical distancing and undergo symptom screenings, and more.

Spanish language interpretation was not provided for the July 15 board meeting. In upcoming weeks, the District 99 school board will release a reopening plan for the 2020-2021 school year.

Note: This article has been updated with the correct spelling of Monique Brandonisio.

Leslie Hurtado is a community reporter who works on COVID-19 coverage for Cicero Independiente. You can send her questions or suggestions at reporter@ciceroindependiente.com