North Cook News

A northwest suburban woman who now home-schools her high school-aged daughter is expressing her dismay with her school district for holding educational sessions in a school while it is not allowing most students to take part in classroom education.

Arlington Heights Township High School District 214 opened the school year with most students learning remotely but is allowing students who are homeless or have special needs to attend classes at a school building.

Laura Lynn Schillmoeller, who lives in the northwest suburbs, posted a series of tweets Aug. 21.

“1/ My former SD @District214 [yes, I'm now a homeschooler] is offering ‘remote learning lab’ at one of the closed schools. Children from grades 1-8 can do their virtual learning in STAFFED school environments. 

“2/ Staff is district subs. Apparently it's safe for sub teachers to enter the classroom, but not ‘regular teachers.’ Cost can easily tap out at $1,000 month/per child.

“3/ D214 is 20% low income. No discounts offered, but D214 staff get a discount!”

Schillmoeller amplified her points in an interview with North Cook News.

“My biggest concern is getting children back into the classrooms,” she said. “Period. I am a parent of a senior in high school in District 214. I am so disturbed by the remote learning offerings that I pulled her out of public school.”

Her daughter Charlotte Rex was in regular classes until early last year when schools were closed over the COVID-19 pandemic. She will complete her education by homeschooling, Schillmoeller said.

“I removed my daughter from public school (high school senior in D214). She is using Indiana University High School to finish high school,” she said. “One of the best parental decisions I've ever made. The curriculum is better and she’s not spending all day staring at Zoom calls. She’s much happier doing this than high school ‘remote learning.’”

Superintendent David R. Schuler, in a letter to parents, explained the school district’s Reset, Redefine and Restart plan.

“The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in which we live,” Schuler wrote. “Specifically for those of us in High School District 214, it has changed the way we teach and the way we learn. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to delivering a high-quality, engaging and relevant education that will ensure every student is college-, career- and life ready when they graduate.”

He said the district will offer a variety of educational programs, starting with “small pods of students – between 10 to 15 per available space according to public health guidelines” who need in-person assistance or internet access.

“This will give us time to learn and adapt to changing conditions in our community," Schuler said. "We hope to progress to other models of learning: Stage 1: Fully remote with only off-site, in-person programming. Stage 2: Partially remote with hybrid on-site programming for our specialized populations and programs. Stage 3: Partially flexible in-person remote learning plan. Stage 4: Fully Flexible In-Person/Remote Learning Plan."

The superintendent said the district will adapt as the situation evolves.

“We will take it one day, one week and one month at a time,” Schuler wrote.

The district started the Remote Learning Lab for students ages 6-14 in grades 1 through 8 on Aug. 24 at the Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights. It did so in order to create “a safe and nurturing environment during the COVID-19 era,” it states on the district website.

“Your child will be placed in an age-appropriate setting with their peers to support social-emotional well-being, while being supervised throughout the day by an expert learning coach who will be available to help with any issues that arise with their academics,” it states. “In addition to the learning support in our classrooms, we will also organize fun brain-break activities throughout the day as well as outdoor time and a lunch break. The small group sizes of no more than 15 students in large classrooms will allow for social distancing while still getting some much-needed socialization and support. Don’t struggle with a plan for student supervision, just leave it up to us.”

Schillmoeller said the cost seems prohibitive.

Tuition is $249 for a five-day week, 165 for three days, and $110 for Tuesday and Thursday only, depending on availability. Parents also can pay $75 per week to drop off a child early or $100 per week for a late pickup.

Schillmoeller said she believes the school district is making a mistake by not opening its doors to students.

“Kids should be in school fully five times a week. I am not a proposal of hybrid education,” she said. “Personally I don't like masks, shields, but if that were needed to get the schools open, then fine.”

Township High School District 214 is approximately 25 miles northwest of Chicago. It serves students from Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling at seven campuses.