D97 middle school students need more time to eat lunch. The bell schedule (new for the 2025-2026 school year) shows students have 36 minutes to eat lunch, but it does not indicate that 36 minutes also includes recess. So it's only 18 minutes to eat lunch, and after students get into the Commons, sit down, and the lunch monitors check IDs to ensure they are in the correct lunch group, there ends up being about 15 minutes for lunch.  

The CDC and the Illinois Board of Education recommend that students have at least 20 minutes to eat after receiving lunch.  The current schedule does not meet those recommendations.

Last year, there was more to eat for lunch. This year, students don't have enough time to eat a complete lunch and many are hungry every day. Hunger during the school day will lead to learning loss and other problems. Students are having to cram food into their mouths quickly, which can lead to choking. 

We are asking the D97 school board and administration to review the schedule and modify the 2025-2026 bell schedule as soon as possible to give students more time to eat lunch.