Joyce Kilmer Elementary School

Honestly, I’m pretty frustrated with the health situation at Kilmer lately. It feels like my kid is rotating through a new cold every other week and the communication from the school office is almost non-existent. The attendance rates across the school are definitely a red flag—it’s clear a lot of kids are missing major class time, which probably explains why the classrooms feel so chaotic. I know they’ve had some partnerships for dental health in the past, but in terms of day-to-day cleanliness and managing germs in these old Chicago buildings, it’s just not cutting it. I wish they’d be more transparent about illness outbreaks before half the class is already out sick.

To be honest, I’ve been pretty frustrated with the health situation at Kilmer lately. The school has been struggling with high chronic absenteeism—I think it’s over 25% now—which says a lot about the general wellness environment. It feels like as soon as one bug hits a classroom, half the kids are out, and I really haven't seen much of a proactive plan to address why so many students are missing school. The communication from the office about health protocols is pretty vague, and honestly, the building feels like it needs a deep clean. With the student-to-counselor ratios being what they are in CPS, my child barely gets any individual wellness support. It’s a lot of pressure on the teachers who are already stretched thin.