North Cook News

While conceding that this year has been as challenging as any students have faced in recent times, Oak Park River Forest (OPRF) Assistant Superintendent Greg Johnson maintains the thought of allowing students to move forward without demonstrating learning would be a tough call.

“As a team, we’ve spent a lot of time discussing the requests in front of us,” Johnson said during a May 25 special board meeting. “This has been an incredibly challenging and trying year, particularly for our black and brown students because of a host of factors. When it comes down to it, the focus we’ve had as a school district has really been aimed at doing our best to have a safe environment for our students. Allowing students to move forward without demonstrating learning — the real reason we exist as an institution — is something that is hard for our team to do.”

School officials have grappled with the issue ever since members of ROYAL (Revolutionary Oak Park Youth Action League) requested that grading policies for the second semester be changed to account for the COVID-19 crisis and the impact it has had on student learning.

The two sides met late last month to discuss the issue. Johnson was among the board members in attendance.

“We have a variety of marks in our grade book,” Johnson said. “As a father of two sons in the school right now I’ve seen different approaches. Homework can be made up and in some (classes)  it’s another assignment or two. Or, these tests or major assessments can be made up. Different classes approach this differently.” 

In addition to a no-fail policy, ROYAL is seeking a commitment from the school board that all students receive credit for their current classes, all seniors graduate with 'Bridge Cash Scholarship Pandemic Assistance,' students be given credit for taking part in mental health and healing activities, and a vow that the school will work with ROYAL "as a student community partner where ROYAL shall be given the power to implement recommendations and hold OPRFHS accountable for learning through the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. racial violence pandemic.”

School officials countered by insisting they are doing all they can to make learning accessible to all students, saying it has “deliberately enhanced our academic and social-emotional supports in an effort to ensure that all students, particularly those who struggled, have had equitable access to learning.”