Dupage Policy Journal

Hinsdale District 86 School Superintendent Tammy Prentiss is asking parents to join her in demanding more answers from state leaders about school reopening plans.

“During the past few months, superintendents from across DuPage County have been imploring our state leaders to adopt a more logical and reasonable approach for managing COVID-19 in schools that will create a safe but less restrictive learning environment for students and staff,” Prentiss wrote in a recent email. “I am emailing you today to ask for your help in conveying the importance and urgency of this situation to our state leaders. With only eight weeks remaining before our first day of school, it is imperative that we have clear direction about expectations and requirements.”

As it is, Prentiss said things are so up in the air there’s still debate over whether or not districts must follow state guidelines.

“We have been told by our insurance provider that not following (state guidelines) will put our district at serious risk from a liability standpoint," Prentiss said in the email, where she also sought clear direction on such issues as masks, social distancing, quarantining and temperature checks.

Also in news out of Hinsdale, The Liberty Justice Center, a nonprofit, public-interest law firm, is offering its services to Hinsdale 86 students and parents who feel they stand to be violated by critical race theory in the schools

"People in Hinsdale might be thinking that indoctrination is something happening elsewhere in the country. The truth is, it could be happening in your own backyard and that's what we want to bring awareness to," Liberty Justice Center Communications and Outreach Director Kristen Williamson told DuPage Policy Journal.

Williamson has been adamant about wanting to see what she says is unfair abuse end here and now.

“We are prepared to represent students, parents and staff who feel their rights are violated when forced to participate in critical theory curriculum or training against their will,” she said. “Forcing students and staff to go through these controversial exercises and make statements with which they disagree open Hinsdale and other districts to First Amendment, equal protection and hostile work environment litigation.”