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Parents and teachers urge Oak Park D97 to limit device take‑home policies and rethink middle‑school staffing
Summary
Multiple parents, pediatricians and district teachers told the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 board that school‑issued tablets and a proposed middle‑school staffing plan risk harming student learning and safety, urging an opt‑in take‑home policy and a delay to staffing changes.
At the April 14 Oak Park Elementary School District 97 school board meeting, a string of parents, pediatricians and teachers urged the board to limit home use of school‑issued devices and to reconsider proposed middle‑school staffing and schedule changes.
"The default should be that all 1‑to‑1 devices stay at school on evenings and weekends unless families opt in to having them sent home," said Lauren Johnson, a parent who said a ScreenCents Oak Park petition has gathered more than 1,100 signatures. She argued that devices lower the friction for looking things up and reduce children’s engagement with hands‑on learning and play.
Hillary Spencer, a pediatrician and parent, told the board she…
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