The Unit 5 School Board renewed the district’s e-learning plan Wednesday after much deliberation.
The district allows for up to five days per year to designate as e-learning, where classes meet remotely on days where school cannot be held in person. This is most often utilized in instances of winter weather. The school board voted to extend a plan that allows for e-learning for the next three years.
“My stance is, I try not to have two consecutive back-to-back e-learning days,” said Superintendent Kristen Weikle.
“We do like having them as an option, but we’ll try to use them sparingly,” said Weikle.
Data from a survey of parents and staff in fall 2025 and another of staff in February 2026 showed support for e-learning. The earlier survey showed 68.1% were in favor of continuing the practice. In the latter, 65.2% of early learning staff, 71.6% of elementary and 92.2% of secondary staff were satisfied or neutral on the current schedule and expectations.
Mark Adams was the only vote against renewal. Still, others on the board discussed the nuance of the matter.
The school district only used the option for four days in the past three school years.
“This is not COVID-era learning,” said Stan Gozur, board president. “And so I see this as a tool for the district.”
Board member Patrick Mainieri said there is a difference between an instance where one specific school cannot hold class and holds e-learning when the rest of the school district is also in session, and an instance where the entire district is unable to hold in-person classes.
“Maybe the discussion down the road, when the opportunity presents itself,” said Mainieri, "is that if this is approved as a tool, can we better define when we’re going to use the tool?’
Panorama
The school district also approved a $43,572 contract with Panorama for a new method of conducting districtwide surveys.
Panorama is one of three alternative surveys to the currently-used 5Essentials Survey that is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. Panorama is preferred by the district, it said, based on its timely and actionable data, ease of administering surveys and customization of questions.
Approximately 80% of survey results are provided immediately following the closing of a survey, with the remaining results coming within five business days. It will also give the ability to compare data between Unit 5 and other districts with similar demographics, in addition to comparing schools. This is a deviation from what 5Essentials allows. It also provides more than 800 pre-validated questions and unlimited customized local questions.
Using 5Essentials Surveys is a slower process. Results for surveys taken in February might not be available until June. It also did not provide a way to ask questions beyond generic, statewide ones.
5Essentials was free to utilize for the district.
