Dear District 99 Students and Families:
Today the Metrics for DuPage County Schools were updated, and every one of the metrics worsened in the past week - with the 62% increase in youth cases particularly concerning. Metrics related to the District 99 community also did not improve last week. The District 99 Dashboard can be found here, and although we have no documented spread originating within the schools, we are very concerned about the rate of COVID-related illness spreading through our community and the increasing number of cases we are monitoring each week. Our concerns are compounded by a number of large social events and parties reported to have occurred over the weekend. As the metrics continue to worsen, the potential of the growing community transmission making its way into our schools increases.
As a result, District 99 will begin an “Adaptive Pause” today. All classes will be in a Fully Remote learning environment for this week (as previously planned) and the week of November 9 (we had planned to follow the Modified Hybrid Schedule - Week One). During an “Adaptive Pause,” we will continue to follow the data closely; as a community, our metrics must start trending in a positive direction before we will consider returning to in-person learning. We will update the community each Monday with our progress towards returning to in-person learning.
On November 4, small groups of students, including Transition 99, the Access and Connections programs, DGN/DGS Multi Needs, and ED self-contained programs, will continue to meet in person under strict safety protocols. All other students should plan to continue in the Fully Remote model for at least the next two weeks. (Click here for this week’s schedule and click here for the Fully Remote Learning schedule starting November 9.)
In order to return to in-person learning as an option for our entire student body in the Modified Hybrid format, our community transmission levels must start trending in a better direction. Please do your part in reducing the spread of this disease. Students and families must help by limiting mixing with others, and when they do interact, they must wear a mask, watch their distance and wash their hands.
Thank you,
District 99