November 17, 2020 – The following is a letter that was sent from Superintendent Paul Enderle to the District 123 community regarding a temporary shift to Remote instruction after the Thanksgiving break.
As many know we have been monitoring various health and safety conditions within our schools since the beginning of the year. We are aware of the rising COVID-19 cases throughout our local community and the State of Illinois. Although our in-person environment remains safe and our current transmission rates low, over the past 10 days we have seen a significant increase in student and staff quarantines and isolations. With attendance rates dropping each day, we are faced with staffing challenges within our current In-Person Hybrid Instructional Program. At this time, it is in the best interest of our students, families, and staff to temporarily shift to Full Remote Learning for all District 123 students after Thanksgiving Break.
With absenteeism, cases, quarantines, and isolations on the rise we will continue in-person instruction for the remainder of this week. However, beginning Monday, November 30, we must pause our In-Person Hybrid Instructional Program and shift to Full Remote Learning for all District 123 students.
There will be NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS on November 30 & December 1. These days will be used as Emergency Remote Learning Planning days to provide time for staff preparation and collaboration for the shift to full remote learning. The previously scheduled Late Start on December 2 will be removed from our calendar.
STUDENTS WILL BEGIN the Full Remote Learning Program on Wednesday, December 2 at 8:30am. Students will continue to follow their current schedules and maintain their current teacher assignments. Your school principal and child’s teacher will send out additional information about this temporary shift by Tuesday, December 1.
We are currently anticipating a return to in-person hybrid instruction on January 19, 2021.
We are incredibly proud to have provided our students a safe and meaningful in-person instructional program for 13-weeks, and pledge to be back in-person again as conditions around the pandemic improve. By communicating our plan in advance, we hope to provide District 123 families ample time to make appropriate child care arrangements until we return to our in-person model.
As a community there is nothing that we cannot overcome together, let us continue to work in support and service to our students and each other. Thank you for your continued partnership in the education of our community’s children.
Sincerely,
Paul J. Enderle
Superintendent