Board of Education Meeting Moved Online Due to Winter Driving Concerns — Questions of Consistency

If road conditions on February 23, 2026 were considered safe for school buses to transport students, safe for parents to attend PAC meetings, safe for staff to travel to schools, and safe for schools to remain open, it raises a reasonable question as to why conditions were considered unsafe for the School District 27 Board of Education to travel to its monthly Board of Education meeting where the public has a chance to watch and listen to meetings in person.

If the Board is responsible for student safety through policy and ensuring its practical application, does that responsibility also extend to travel to and from school for students and staff? Or are road and winter driving conditions assessed differently when it comes to Board meetings?

Based on these circumstances, it is difficult to reconcile the explanation of “Due to safety concerns with driving in winter conditions” with what was otherwise deemed safe across the district that same day.

To many parents and caregivers, this appears to further limit in-person public participation—particularly access to the already restricted two-minute public statements—and is perceived as part of an ongoing trend discussed in recent meetings, alongside the Board’s stated intention to amend its bylaws.

Will the School District please point to their policies or bylaws that clearly outline the conditions for when a meeting will or will not happen in person and pivot to online only?“