Eleven District 230 teachers approved for FFCRA leave, more requests being processed

Of the district's 511 teachers, 11 have been approved for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and an additional 10 leave requests are being processed

Eleven teachers in Consolidated High School District 230 have received approval from the Board of Education for leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, or FFCRA, due to childcare reasons.

The leaves were approved at last week’s Board meeting, Director of Communications Carla Erdey said in an email. Three of the leaves extend beyond next week, and the other eight are intermittent leaves consisting of 1 to 2 days per week, Erdey said.

The district, which has 511 teachers across three high schools, has an additional 10 FFCRA childcare leave requests being processed, Erdey said. The requests will be presented at the district’s September Board meeting, and two of them require long-term substitutes, she added. Some of the additional 10 have have begun their leave per federal requirements, Erdey said.

The communications director said substitute teachers have filled the spots of all teachers currently on FFCRA leave for covid-related reasons.

District 230 staff members are teaching from their classrooms while students currently learn remotely. | Photo by Orland Blueprint

Teacher safety and the quality of substitute teachers were the subject of public comments delivered at last week’s Board meeting. Parents and community members expressed concerns over the health of teachers as they are required to instruct from their classrooms while students currently learn remotely.

“Since the start of student attendance, all classes have been taught by a qualified educator per ISBE requirements,” Erdey said, referring to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Regarding teacher safety, the district sent an email to staff last week reminding them of the importance of following proper face mask safety guidelines while on campus, Erdey said.

In the email to staff, district administrators wrote, in part: “While many of our staff have quickly transitioned back to school in observance of mask requirements, there have been a few isolated situations involving a few employees who have either not worn a mask while on school grounds or have worn the mask incorrectly (below the nose or below one or both lips).”

Staff members were warned of a three-step action plan for violating mask guidelines, according to the email. The first incident warrants a verbal reminder from a building administrator; the second incident leads to a written reminder by the principal outlining appropriate facial covering and a diagram of proper use; and the third incident results in a meeting with the assistant superintendent of human resources during which the staff member will view a face covering video, discuss expectations and next steps should another incident occur.