By ALICIA FABBREDAILY SOUTHTOWN |JUN 23, 2021 AT 4:50 PM
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Parents from Homer Elementary District 33C and neighboring school districts packed Tuesday’s school board meeting to voice concerns about mask mandates and raise questions about curriculum.
Parents also raised concerns about critical race theory and its place in curriculum.
Monday’s meeting drew more than 30 parents from District 33C and neighboring school districts. Of the 15 who spoke during them meeting, at least half were from outside District 33C, school officials said.
Though board members did not respond to any parent comments, District 33C School Board President Debra Martin read a statement in which she urged concerned parents to contact state lawmakers and the Illinois State Board of Education.
“Just as we teach our students to stand up for what they believe is right, we would continue to encourage any community members with concerns to advocate for their children by contracting and petitioning local and state leaders that currently influence such impactful decisions,” Martin said.
She said the district is following state board guidance as it relates to a full return to school this fall and that, at this time, the state still mandates that masks be worn in school.
Martin also said that while the district has some flexibility in academic decisions, it does not have the ability to simply refuse to follow a state mandate.
“We do not have the latitude to decide whether or not to adhere to laws and school code language that is passed down through the state legislature or the state school board,” Martin said.
Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich, who also serves on the Will County Board and chairs the Homer GOP, suggested school board members could adopt a resolution saying the district would not employ the sex education curriculum proposed by the state, which Balich said would be an unfunded mandate by the state. He also urged board members to pen a letter to Pritzker urging him to veto Senate Bill 818 which includes changes regarding sex education.
