District 87 Board Members Expected to Vote on P.E. Waiver

Glenbard Township High School District 87 administrators want every student at the four Glenbard high schools enrolled in a physical education class next year. 

At tonight's school board meeting, board members are expected to vote on the issue. In previous years, all students could request a physical education waiver, according to Peg Mannion District 87 spokesperson. The district began phasing in a new waiver procedure about four years ago and administrators want to stick to the plan, continuing to make the waiver unavailable to all students moving forward. Like many other nearby high schools, district 87 allowed waivers for certain students to skip out on gym to free up their schedules for a study hall, or another class.  

But the district says gym is needed because 30 percent of the students at Glenbard schools are considered obese, according to a memo from the superintendent. In that same memo, district 87 contends that the waiver gives an unfair advantage to these students who could take another academic course instead of P.E., which could unfairly boost GPAs.  

According to the memo, the administration recommends abandoning the waiver for all future classes, but the school board wanted to review an option for next school year that would allow seniors to request the waiver. If the board votes to change the current policy, those senior students will be eligible for the waiver if they compete in a sport, were admitted to a college or institution of higher learning and have completed all graduation requirements.    

St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, Community Unit School District 200 in Wheaton, and Lyons Township High School District 204 all allow junior and senior varsity athletes or band members to seek a physical education waiver. Since these students are involved in time consuming after school physical activities, the waiver is provided to give the students the option of taking a study hall.  

, to see what Mary Ozog, District 87 board member, has to say about P.E. waivers in her letter to the editor. 

The school board is expected to vote on this measure at Monday's school board meeting at 6:15 p.m. For more information visit the agenda, here. 

Editor's note: This article was changed to clarify how the P.E. policy will work. The administration is recommending that no changes be made to the current policy.