We, the citizens of D219 have signed this petition for the BOE of Niles Township High Schools to return to five days a week of regularly scheduled classes. We are sorry it has to come to this petition but it is obvious this district only listens to many voices in concert on one idea. This need not be in person instruction nor should this petition be construed as a debate over in person or remote instruction. The undersigned are beyond worried that:

• Our students are falling behind our neighboring districts
• Our students are ill prepared for post high school opportunities
• The actionless rhetoric from 219 of helping to improve education for our students of color is met with a widening achievement gap during this pandemic.
• Social and Emotional learning can best be done with a regular and familiar routine.
• Data is not being collected to indicate deficits.

At present our school has the lowest number of instructional minutes per week of any of the neighboring districts including CPS. It is impossible for us to imagine the achievement gap for our students of color shrinking during this time. As the nation begins to address learning loss from the pandemic, D219 appears to be repeating the same schedule and the same number of instructional minutes for the last 3 semesters. CDC recommends returning to school and a normal routine for the intellectual, physical and emotional health of our students.

As taxpayers we believe our tax dollars are not being spent wisely during the pandemic

As taxpayers we demand this improvement for our students as soon as possible.

As taxpayers we demand:

1. 5 days a week of instruction for all classes
2. Return of extended periods in science for labs
3. Collection of data to determine our districts deficit
4. Summer programming to allow students to reduce their educational gaps created by the pandemic and D219’s response.