Teaching kindergarten students via a computer screen two days a week is a frustrating challenge, a Bailly Elementary teacher told the Lake Station School Board Wednesday.
“It’s hard as a teacher to keep 15 5-year-olds engaged on a computer. I can’t provide feedback the way a 5-year-old needs to hear it.
“I am the first school experience for these kids… They already are hating it. They cry after lunch, they just want to be in school… This isn’t what school is meant to be.”
That’s the reality for the 1,125 Lake Station students who began the school year with just three in-person school days because the district can’t fund its busing service.
The district hopes to turn its fortunes around by November through a vigorous campaign to pass a $1.3 million property tax referendum extension. Voters rejected the extension last November by 14 votes.
If the referendum passes, five-day bus service will be restored in November. If it fails again, there will be no bus service at all by February.
For now, students attend e-learning classes Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In recent months, the school board has laid off four teachers, while 10 other teachers resigned, saving the district about $745,000.
In May, the board laid off 37 employees, including 19 paraprofessionals who assist teachers in the classroom. It also reduced staff who sponsor 27 extra-curricular activities and clubs, saving another $635,160.
On Wednesday, the board hired back 10 paraprofessionals at their same salary after it received permission to use its federal Title 1 funding.
Yorek asked why teachers weren’t involved in the e-learning decision and why the board didn’t hold an open forum.
Typically, the board doesn’t respond to audience member statements. In Yorek’s case, it made an exception and held a lengthy back-and-forth with the teacher.
“Naturally, this is not what we want to be doing for our children,” said board member Kevin Music who has four children in the district. He said the state required two years notice of a plan to discontinue busing.
Board members said they’ve been discussing funding issues for at least two years. Since 2020, meetings have been broadcast via Zoom and on Facebook Live.
“It was voted on in a meeting and it’s something that’s been discussed meeting after meeting,” said board attorney Tara Tauber. “You can watch in the middle of the night if your schedule allows,” she said.
Some residents criticized district leaders for using its federal COVID-19 relief money to upgrade the track at Edison High. Officials said the money couldn’t be used for busing and the federal requirements were restricted to certain capital projects and repairs.
“When you receive federal dollars and you don’t use it in the way the federal government says, it’s money that’s lost. It flies out the window,” said Tauber. “Redoing the track was one of those…”
She laid the blame for the funding crisis on state lawmakers. “Our schools are underfunded because of our lawmakers… If you don’t like seeing districts in this position, vote for different lawmakers,” Tauber said.
Board member Karen Curtis said it’s important for the district to share its message.
“I hope we can come to some understanding about our struggle and how to communicate with you more to get all the information you need,” she said.
Curtis said officials spent a lot of time planning for the least disruption to students.
“It wasn’t done to inconvenience teachers and parents. I think as a community we’ll be more knowledgeable about this vote we’ll take.”
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
