Lofstrand addresses students’ concerns at town hall meeting led by SGA

Urja Davesar

On Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2020, Decatur High School’s Student Government Association (SGA) sponsored a virtual town hall meeting to address the concerns and questions of the students in response to the new in-person learning plan.  The meeting took place from 4:30pm to 5:30pm in which Principal Lofstrand answered questions submitted by the student body. 

“In full disclosure, a lot of our plans are still being created,” principal Rochelle Lofstrand said at the beginning. “I will be able to answer a lot of questions, but for some questions I´ll let you know where we are in the process of planning.” 

Principal Lofstrand was able to answer most questions. Topics ranged from Masks/Sanitation to Schedules and safety procedures to Athletics, as the students confronted the choice of whether or not to go back to school. 

Lofstrand highlighted some important things you should look out for such as a form in the next couple days asking whether or not you believe you will return to in-person instruction. 

“Will you guys have the choice to choose? The answer is yes, I believe [a form] is coming out in the next day or two. At first you guys will be able to choose how you are feeling right now – [either] in-person or virtual. It will not tie you in, we are just simply trying to gage how many students are thinking about coming back because that will affect our planning,” Lofstrand said.  

She also stated that many district wide decisions which involve the community as a whole will be coming out in the next couple days in a district dispatch.

SGA spotlighted some crucial concerns regarding the students’ health and safety, but Lofstrand also made sure to hold students accountable for their actions outside of school since it affects the community as a whole.

“We want to see you in the building, we want to interact with you, we want to teach you, we want to support you,” Lofstrand said. “We know you all have had a lot going on and we are going to ask that in order to be able to meet in person, we need you to use the best practices outside of school and in the community as well.”

The questions and answers discussed will be posted soon on 3ten. There will also be an email sent out to the student body sharing the link to the live stream.