Sent to D99 Community on August 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Dear District 99 Community:
This afternoon we received new more restrictive guidelines set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The newly released procedures for students and staff with COVID-like symptoms and additional close contact protocols prevent our ability to hold in-person instruction.
As a result of this new information, District 99 will follow our Modified Hybrid Schedules for the week of August 17-- but all remotely. Click here for the 9th grade schedule; click here for the 10th, 11th, and 12th grade schedule. Students may not attend school in person.
In addition, we are canceling our PPE pick-up days tomorrow and Friday and will work on creating a combined pick-up procedure where students can also pick up textbooks, materials, and resources at the same time. We will need a few days to coordinate this, but we will share details as soon as we can.
Please note that this change will not impact after school activities or other small group activities already planned, since Phase 4 guidance allows for cohorts less than 50 to assemble.
Starting August 24, we will move to our Fully Remote Plan, as previously planned. We will return to our Hybrid Schedule if guidance is modified to allow us to return.
As we have previously shared at the Board of Education meetings on July 20, July 27 and August 3, if health guidelines changed and became more restrictive, or if we reached a threshold where the health department recommended discontinuing in-person learning, that we would need to return to Full Remote Learning.
We understand that this has been a stressful time for everyone. We know that in-person learning is the best kind of learning and are disappointed we are unable to welcome students into our buildings next week.
Until we can see you all in person, please do your part to reduce the spread of COVID in our community by washing your hands, practicing social distancing, and wearing a face covering around others.
Thank you,
Dr. Hank Thiele
Superintendent