Two middle school teachers came to a recent Oak Park Elementary School District 97 school board meeting to speak out against staff cutbacks and other changes at Oak Park’s middle schools next year.
Although final staffing decisions have not yet been completed for next year, D97 announced earlier this year that it plans to cut certified staff throughout the district, including elementary schools, by 23.5 positions. The district has not yet decided how many teachers will be cut from the two middle schools.
“We are not yet in a position to provide finalized staffing numbers for the 2026-27 school year, as we are continuing to work through schedule development and staff assignments,” Amanda Siegfried, the district’s spokesperson, wrote in an email. “We anticipate continued communication and follow-up with staff in the coming days and weeks as that work progresses.”
Next year students at Gwendolyn Brooks and Percy Julian middle schools will be split into two teams at each school, down from three teams this year. The length of most class periods will be cut by three minutes, from 49 minutes currently to 46 minutes for all periods other than first period which will be 47 minutes. According to a district email sent to families last month there will be no reduction in course offerings and class sizes will remain “consistent to this year and within typical middle school ranges.” The email said the changes are being made to maintain strong academic programming for all students, ensure a more consistent schedule across both middle schools, and provide equitable class structures and planning time for staff.
However, some middle school teachers are not so sanguine about the changes. Two teachers spoke out against the staff cuts and schedule changes at the April 28 school board meeting.
“While families have been told these changes will not significantly affect student experiences that cannot be true,” said Becky Ward, a Julian English Language Arts teacher who is also a D97 parent. “The reality is straightforward. Next year’s middle school enrollment is not declining. Each grade will have more than 300 students. What is changing is the number of teachers available to serve those students.”
Enrollment is currently expected to increase by 26 students at Julian and by three students at Brooks next school year.
Ward said the teacher cuts means that classes will be larger next year in the middle schools and that she will have an increased teaching load.
“Under the proposed plan core teachers could see their student load increase by as much 45 percent, from 100 students to 145 students,” Ward said. “At the same time teachers are required to take on a fifth class section eliminating valuable planning time. This planning time is not extra: it’s essential to prepare lessons, to grade, to provide meaningful feedback, communicate with parents, collaborate with colleagues, attend IEP and 504 meetings, address academic and behavior concerns, cover classes due to the ongoing sub shortage. You cannot increase a teacher’s student load by 45 percent, remove planning time and expect the same educational outcomes.”
Ward, who will have to teach social studies in addition to English next year, said larger class sizes and an increased workload for teachers means that there will likely be more class disruptions and that teachers will not be able to do as good of a job as they do now.
“There are not enough minutes in the day to teach more students, more classes, new subject areas and to do that at the same level and to have it not have an impact on outcomes,” Ward said.
Tasia Rodriguez, a science and design teacher at Brooks, also made a public comment at the same meeting decrying the changes. Rodriguez said she is being transferred to Julian to teach math and science next year. Rodriguez said when teachers have to teach two subjects one subject usually takes the back burner.
“I’m concerned that requiring teachers to teach multiple core subjects will negatively impact student learning,” Rodriguez told the school board.
Rodriguez said she feared for the future of the design class.
She said that her design classes range from seven to 26 students.
“Keeping design classes under 24 is essential to non-traditional classroom setting,” Rodriguez said. “In design we’re not only teaching design process we’re building foundational technology skills. Many students are learning for the first time, how to use a mouse, organize their Google Drive, take screenshots, and work in CAD programs like Onshape.”
Rodriguez said students need close supervision because they use potentially dangerous equipment such as high-powered laser cutters and 3D printers.
“Smaller classes are critical so that I can provide individual guidance and ensure student safety,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez, who like Ward is also a D97 parent, said she feared the design class won’t be around when her elementary school aged daughter gets to middle school.
“I just don’t see design making it until she gets to sixth, seventh and eighth grade,” Rodriquez said.
The teachers union in D97, called the Oak Park Teachers Association (OPTA), declined to comment on the staffing cuts or the schedule changes planned for the middle schools because they are still in talks with administrators about the changes.
“OPTA is still in conversation with D97 administration related to the proposed middle school schedule, so we do not feel there is anything to share at this time while these talks continue,” said Stephanie Suerth, the co-president of the OPTA in an email.