Dupage Policy Journal

Rajesh Narayan leaves no question about where he stands on the question many consider to be the most pressing in the DuPage Naperville Community Unit School District 204 race.

“I’m very strongly for reopening schools,” Narayan told the DuPage Policy Journal. “I think several states have had schools open for two-months now and private schools have been open in Naperville since August. I don’t see why our schools can’t be open. We have CDC guidelines that recommend that.”

A local small business owner, Narayan is one of 11 candidates vying for four, four-year seats on the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board. Narayan said his 13-year-old daughter attending Scullen Middle School has inspired him to make his run.

“I’ve lived in Naperville for 13 years and I have been socially active in the community,” Narayan told the Daily Herald. She has been my inspiration for the school board. I can use my unique set of skills and experience of running a business and economics/finance background in the school board to contribute positively.”

While he concedes there are no easy answers, Narayan argues the board’s actions have been misdirected almost from the very beginning.

“We should have had a hybrid model where parents that feel comfortable sending their kids to school five times a week should have had that option and parents that don’t feel comfortable could have done Zoom,” he said.

If the choice was his, Narayan said he would have also allowed high school sports to continue during the pandemic.

“Sports is a very essential part of education,” he said. “My own daughter is on the volleyball team and she was unable to play last year. I am of the view that if we follow CDC guidelines, we can make playing sports safer too. Granted that the game performance may not be the same when wearing masks, but at least they will get to play and practice. It will also give students the choice of playing or not playing.”