Dupage Policy Journal

Glenbard Township District 87 Superintendent David Larson told high school parents he cancelled school dances because he believed they were "not safe for students," and that school basketball games were safe because "spectators at athletic events are seated, usually facing in one direction."

Larson made the comments via email last week in response to parent questions about the the inconsistency of his policy, allowing some extracurricular activities but not others.

"While spectators at athletic events are seated, usually facing in one direction, and stationary, enforcing safety precautions is challenging," he wrote. "At a dance, there is very little time that students are seated or stationary."

"Additionally, the nature of a dance puts students in physical proximity facing one-another; therefore, it is much more challenging to ensure that all students are adhering to safety protocols," Larson said. "During high transmission rates like we have now, a dance is not safe for students."

Glenbard West Principal Peter Monaghan cancelled the school's "Heart Hop" dance, originally scheduled for Feb. 12, claiming that "enforcing masking is nearly impossible."

Monaghan was pictured mask-less at the school's nationally-televised boys' basketball game at Wintrust Arena on Feb. 5.

The Glenbard West Hilltoppers are 28-1 and top-ranked in Illinois. They start the IHSA State Basketball Tournament this week, where fans will be present.

Last week, Glen Ellyn School District 41 School Board member and student mask mandate supporter Jason Loebach posted a mask-less photo of himself on Facebook at a Naperville coffee house.

Larson, of Glen Ellyn, has run District 87 since 2012, will earn $385,718 in compensation this year, before his taxpayer-funded pension contribution. He also receives 35 paid sick and vacation days. 

In 2017, Larson drew criticism for trying to lower his property taxes by 40 percent while advocating for higher property taxes on all District 87 residents. 

Larson also slammed parents who choose private schools over Glenbard District 87, saying they are "weakening" and "fragmenting" their communities and "(eroding) the foundation of our ... democratic society," especially those who choose them for "religious or sectarian factors."

These parents should be chastised, Larson argued, for "(placing) a greater value on personal choice than the importance of equity, commonality and public accountability," presumably to leaders of monopoly public school systems like him.