Though the 2019-2020 school year is just winding down, four area elementary school districts are busy making plans for remote learning during the next school year.
After all Illinois schools were closed in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person classes were replaced with remote learning. Although state restrictions intended to stop the spread of COVID-19 have loosened in recent weeks, a surge in the number of cases could keep schools closed in August.
Schools will be able to offer in-person instruction if the state enters phase four of the five-phase “Restore Illinois” plan for reopening public spaces. As of June 15, the state was in phase three of the plan.
According to local school districts, there has been no confirmation yet from the Illinois State Board of Education regarding whether in-person classes can resume in the fall.
“Chances are, we will be doing some sort of remote learning,” said Cathay Kedjidjian, communications director for Glenview Elementary School Dist. 34.
Dist. 34, Palatine Elementary School Dist. 15 and Wheeling Township Elementary School Dist. 21 have all assembled staff teams to develop remote learning strategies for the coming school year as well as options for in-person classes and a blend of remote and in-person instruction.
“We are planning multiple scenarios,” said Kedjidjian just before the last day of school (June 2) in the district.
She said Dist. 34 has assembled a “remote learning planning team” of 50 staff members who were scheduled to meet for the first time over Zoom on Monday (June 8). Members are expected to meet daily in some form until the district develops a plan at the end of June, Kedjidjian said.
To plan the curriculum, school staff usually utilize student assessments. Since state standardized tests were canceled due to the pandemic, educators in Dist. 34 are using other types of assessments such as classwork, Kedjijdian said.
Dist. 34 also sent out surveys to staff, students and parents regarding their experiences with remote learning this school year to assist with planning. The surveys cover topics such as transportation, childcare, curriculum and more, according to Kedjidjian.
She said the most recent of these have been sent out to parents. In the survey, parents can include suggestions about how to implement e-learning going forward.
“We’re asking people to think about what their homes are going to look like,” Kedjidjian explained.
In order to make sure students have access to online learning both over the summer and in the fall, Dist. 34 allowed all students to keep their school-issued devices at home. Students in need also have access to free WiFi devices.
Students in Dist. 34 are expected to return to class Aug. 19.
Dist. 15 staff have formed six task force groups with 10 to 12 members each to work on plans for the 2020-2021 school year, said Chief Communication Officer Morgan Delack.
“Several have started meeting already and others will wait to convene until the state has issued its guidance for returning to school,” she said. “The district would like parent input, but has not yet decided if that will be in the form of a survey, focus group or committee representation.”
In Dist. 15, 2020-2021 classes are set to begin Aug. 17 with kindergarten and early childhood classes starting Aug. 18.
“It’s definitely something that’s on the table,” said Dist. 21 Communications Specialist Kara Beach of remote learning when the Journal & Topics spoke with her on the last day of class in Dist. 21 for the 2019-2020 school year.
A 70-member task force group of Dist. 21 staff began meeting in April to create multiple options for instruction next school year.
“We need to have a few different scenarios ready to go at any moment,” said Beach.
Members of the group were selected to represent different schools and employee groups, she explained. The group is also separated into three subcommittees: one focused on student assessments, one focused on the instructional environment and one focused on physical resources and spaces for learning. Chairpersons from each committee regularly report back to the administrative team, Beach said.
According to a letter from Dist. 21 Supt. Michael Connolly, a return to in-person classes would include an increased emphasis on hygiene such as washing hands as well as social distancing. Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing of school buildings would also be implemented.
Dist. 21 students are expected to return to class Aug. 19 with kindergarten and early childhood scheduled to start Aug. 20.
“I understand that the topic of what school will look like in the fall is on people’s minds these days and very much on ours as well,” said Dist. 62 Director of Communications Jennifer Tempest Bova. “We have yet to finalize plans as school literally just ended on Friday and we are continuing to get guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education. Rest assured that when we have a plan in place for the fall, we will communicate that out directly with our staff, parents and community.”
Before classes in Dist. 62 wrapped up May 29, a 10-minute survey regarding e-learning was made available to district families. Through the survey, participants could include recommendations and comments.
Dist. 62 schools are expected to begin 2020-2021 classes Aug. 17, including Iroquois Community School. Though Iroquois usually follows a year-round calendar, district administrators announced last month it would follow a 10-month during the upcoming school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enjoy award-winning local news by subscribing to the Journal & Topics in print or online.
