North Cook News

Oak Park River Forest (OPRF) director of Student Services Lynda Parker wants to make sure that everyone is on the same page in the growing debate about the school’s grading system in the age of COVID-19.

“When we look at the number of Fs and number of students, remember that every F isn’t a required course,” Parker said at a recent special school board meeting. “That doesn’t mean that prohibited those students graduating. That number also encompasses students who remain with us for different reasons and I think what you’re seeing in terms of that low number this year is all of the supports students took advantage of. I think that contributed to what you see this year. Twenty-nine out of a class as large as ours is very small.”

 The issue of grades and what seniors need to graduate has become a hot-button issue around OPRF since members of ROYAL (Revolutionary Oak Park Youth Action League), which has students at the school, requested that grading policies for the second semester be changed to account for the pandemic and the negative effects it has had on student learning.

In addition to a no-fail policy, ROYAL is seeking a commitment from the school board that includes assuring that all students will receive credit for their current classes, all seniors at the school will work with ROYAL toward gaining Bridge Cash Scholarship Pandemic Assistance, a guarantee that students be given credit for taking part in mental health and healing activities and a vow “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. Officials said they have “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.”

Parker seems open to listening to almost anything.

“We’re always striving for perfection,” she said.