Fall Opening Plan:  2020-21 School Year

This document provides additional information to assist families in making as informed a decision as is possible regarding learning for the opening of the 2020-2021 school year. Families will commit to one option or the other through the first semester (January 2021). We want to emphasize again that–depending on the circumstances with the pandemic, either locally, regionally, or across the state–the District may revert to a full remote learning platform for all students, or a return to a full day in-person schedule.

Many, many of you have asked the question If I choose in-person learning can I switch to full remote later this school year? Our response has been that medical (student or family), health, or other circumstances may arise prompting a family to request a change in status from in-person to full remote learning. These requests would be submitted to the principal and the superintendent and will be approved as long as capacity exists. Please note that once an in-person model has been determined and both in-person and full remote learning have been staffed with teachers, sections cannot be dissolved and flipped. This means that there will be capacity limits on full remote sections. Thus, based on the sheer number of these types of questions, we cannot guarantee that change if sections are full.

*We are compelled to note that if you have a long list of concerns related to in-person learning, it is important to realize that in-person learning will not look like pre-COVID in-person learning. Also, we will be following guidelines to the extent possible. But before you make your selection, we encourage you to thoroughly review the information contained in this message regarding what full remote learning will look like, as we do not believe there will be any learning disadvantage for those who are learning remotely.

Protocol for Positive Diagnosis

If a student, staff member, or a family member tests positive for COVID-19, the individual, family, and District will contact the Lake County Health Department. Individuals will need to quarantine for 14 days (or longer) from the date of the positive test and will need two negative COVID-19 tests administered 24 hours apart before returning to school. Individuals exposed (defined as contact of less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) to the person who tested positive may need to quarantine and be tested for COVID-19. If advised to do so by the Health Department, the school or district may need to close for a period of time until the schools can be sanitized and appropriate contact tracing has occurred. The District will work closely with the Lake County Health Department for each incident.

As a reminder, the State of Illinois is currently in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. While in Phase 4, the following parameters will be in place:

• Schools will be open with Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) approved safety guidance.
• Gatherings of 50 people or less are allowed in one space.
• Masks and physical distancing will be required.

If the region moves back to Phase 3, or as circumstances dictate, we will revert to full remote learning for all students.

If the region moves forward to Phase 5 and restrictions are lifted, we will move to full time in-person learning for all students.

Click each link below to read details about that option:

THANK YOU – The opportunity has closed to submit a learning plan choice or to make a change to a choice made previously. Please watch for District communications during the week of July 20 with more information about the 2020-21 school year ahead.