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Student delegates tell OPRF board they favor e-learning days but raise equity, access concerns
Summary
Student delegates told the board they generally prefer e-learning days to adding make-up snow days, while flagging technology reliability and equity for students with limited access; the board welcomed guidance and draft administration guidelines.
Student delegates told the Oak Park–River Forest SD 200 board that many students favor e-learning days over adding make-up snow days, primarily because e-learning can avoid extending the school year for everyone.
A student delegate summarized the group’s view: "A lot of us were actually, like, in support of having e-learning days, especially when we learned, like, we wouldn't have to add on that extra snow day to the end of the year." Delegates noted practical concerns: technology failures, difficulties translating in-class lessons to remote platforms, the need for clearer expectations about synchronous vs. asynchronous work, and equity concerns for students whose parents work outside the home or who lack reliable internet access.
Delegates recommended a model that reduces synchronous seat-time requirements—students would check in for attendance and then work asynchronously through posted assignments, with options to rejoin class sessions as needed. Board members said the administration’s draft guidelines were helpful and that, given the delegates’ input, a separate future agenda item on the subject might not be necessary.
What’s next: Administration said it has drafted guidelines and will share them with the board; if additional discussion is needed, the topic could return to a future meeting.
