J. Thomas Donnell of Humboldt has confidence that school closures and end to in-school instruction won’t harm students in the long run.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order ending in-school instruction for the academic year on April 17. Illinois school systems were previously told to switch to remote learning.
Pritzker said in a Facebook post that his decisions followed the science, which said "students can’t go back to their normal routine."
“I am glad the Governor is taking the steps necessary to keep kids and families safe,” Donnell, a Republican Precinct Committeeman for Coles County told the East Central Reporter. “The teachers and administrators in Coles County schools were already pivoting to provide competency-based education and were implementing instruction designed to reach students in non-traditional ways.”
Pritzker shared a message in his Facebook post to teachers, special ed instructors and administrators who dedicated themselves to their students. saying that “my heart is with you.”
“Know that your efforts to reach your classrooms through new, creative ways mean the world to your students, and to me,” the governor said.
Donnell, a dentist and farmer in Coles County, shares Pritzker’s confidence.
“I have every confidence, given their demonstrated commitment to learning and to student achievement, that this setback will not interfere with the long-term success of students,” Donnell said.
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