Dear District 96 Families and Staff,
I hope that everyone is staying safe and well during these extremely challenging times. We find ourselves working from home trying to get our arms around our new reality...at least for the near future.
The Illinois State Board of Education released guidance and a new calendar designation for school days that cannot be done via in-person instruction. The Remote Learning Recommendations to be used during the COVID-19 emergency outline priorities and expectations for schools across the state. District 96 had an E-Learning Plan approved last fall; thus, we do not need to adjust our current plan and we have verified that we are in compliance with recommendations.
Our plan is a rigorous one that takes into account all of the demands and challenges our families are facing, including working from home themselves, loss of household income, illness of themselves or those they care for or support, and being identified as “essential personnel” who must continue to work in order to provide essential services, despite their kids being home.
The District 96 Remote Learning Plan takes effect on Tues., Mar. 31, as outlined in prior communication. You have already received resources and expectations for the first few days of the plan, but you can expect your own and your student’s experience to change as of Tuesday. As of Tuesday, teachers and related services providers will be checking in on a regular basis–not only regarding academic learning, but around how students are doing during this challenging time.
While Governor Pritzker’s current declaration closes schools through Apr. 7, in District 96 we are preparing for a potential longer closure. Once the governor has announced the status of school closures past Apr. 7, we will provide additional updated information regarding our calendar and plan moving forward.
Lastly, I have been asked by village administrators, our law enforcement agencies, and the health department to reiterate the importance of following the “stay at home” order and critical social distancing guidelines when engaging in essential activities. All District 96 playgrounds are closed and signs are posted as such. Please follow the guidelines so that we are all safe.
Warmly,
Julie Schmidt, District 96 Superintendent of Schools