Raccoon Grade School Superintendent Misty Johannes and Governor JB Pritzker quickly agreed during a Friday phone call that neither of them had signed up for dealing with COVID-19 restrictions when taking their jobs.
Pritzker had called Johannes to congratulate the school district on being named one of the 18 Blue Ribbon Schools in Illinois.
Johannes explained that while they were compliant with masks and unvaccinated teacher’s being tested weekly, parents are coming to each meeting in opposition to the masks. She explained that administrators felt caught in the middle between court cases and the mandates.
While the Governor didn’t offer comment on the issue, he was positive to the new outdoor tent classrooms that have been put up at Raccoon Grade School. He asked if it was okay to share the idea and indicated he hoped more districts would develop outside learning spaces when the weather was cooperative.
Johannes says the Raccoon Grade School students were excited about the outdoor classrooms and an ice cream party to students just over a week ago to introduce them. After tables and chairs were moved in, the tents started to be used as classrooms on a rotating basis on Friday.
