Important updates regarding the 2020-21 school year and COVID-19

Pictured is District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton.

As we continue to face the challenges of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, I would like to thank our stakeholders for your adaptability and support as we come together to overcome the adversity of this unprecedented situation. We are committed to keeping you up to date with the latest COVID-19 information, and below are recent updates. We will post current content at www.dupage88.net/Coronavirus.

PLANNING FOR THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR
Since the end of the 2019-20 school year, the District 88 administrative team has worked closely with several agencies to plan for the 2020-21 school year. As this situation is fluid, and recommendations and amendments could be made during the school year, we are developing education models and structures to accommodate a variety of scenarios. The goal of these plans is to ensure a flexible environment in which student learning can be maintained virtually or in person. We will need to be prepared to reopen school in one of three possible frameworks:

  • Remote Learning: Continued use of the Remote Learning/E-learning environment, similar to the plan we used this spring, but enriched and enhanced. In this scenario, teaching and learning would be entirely virtual, and students wouldn’t be present in the buildings.

  • Blended Remote Learning: In this scenario, the district would continue to rely on Remote Learning/E-learning, but would phase in opportunities for students to be in the classroom (as guidance permits). The district is looking at a variety of schedule options to determine the best way to implement this model, as the logistics are challenging.

  • In-School Learning: In this scenario, the district would return to an in-person learning environment (while implementing any restrictions required by Centers for Disease Control or the Illinois Department of Public Health).

While we were awaiting guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), we created reopening strategies with DuPage Regional Superintendent Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, DuPage County superintendents and high school superintendents from throughout Illinois. The District 88 administration developed ideas and draft plans for each reopening scenario. To support our work in the absence of a planning document from the ISBE, we used guidelines from Centers for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the DuPage County Health Department. We used available transition planning documents from the American Federation of Teachers, the state of Maryland, the state of Missouri, the state of New York, the state of Wisconsin and the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, along with several other documents from a variety of sources throughout the country.

On June 23, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker shared guidelines for reopening schools, formed in collaboration with the ISBE, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board. This document has been much anticipated and will help answer the critical questions all of us share about reopening schools and the transition to the 2020-21 school year. While there are still details and logistics to finalize, the document provides a starting point and a framework. See the full guidance document from the ISBE at http://www.isbe.net/Documents/Part-3-Transition-Planning-Phase-4.pdf. We will vet our draft plans against these recommendations.

As we develop and implement plans to transition and reopen, I ask District 88 parents/guardians for your input and support. I invite parents/guardians to participate in our first meeting of the Transition/Reopening Parent Committee starting at 6:30 p.m. on June 30. The meeting will take place online. If you would like to attend and join the committee, please contact me at shelton@dupage88.net. I will then send the login information, agenda, administrative draft plan and Remote Learning survey results.

I’m confident we can put forth a plan that prioritizes the well-being and safety of our students, staff and community members, while maintaining a dynamic learning environment with the flexibility to transition from one scenario to another with simplicity. Thank you again for your patience, understanding and flexibility as our entire school community works together to navigate this unprecedented situation none of us could have imagined.

AMENDED 2020-21 SCHOOL CALENDAR
During its June 22 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education approved a proposal to amend the 2020-21 school calendar. See the updated calendar at https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=5241.

ATHLETICS
We plan to begin athletic practices on July 6. Please note we will follow federal, state and local guidance regarding social distancing, health and cleaning protocols for the safety and well-being of students and staff. Coaches will contact student-athletes with details.

DRIVER EDUCATION
We plan to resume driver education classes on July 13. Please note we will follow federal, state and local guidance regarding social distancing, health and cleaning protocols for the safety and well-being of students and staff. More details will be shared soon.

REGISTRATION
Registration for the 2020-21 school year is scheduled to begin on July 20. This year, we are excited to offer a full online registration process for our students and families. Parents/guardians will be able to register their student(s) using an online portal to provide required information and documents. They also will have the ability to make electronic payments for school fees, materials and supplies. Building administrators will be available to provide assistance, and further details will be shared soon.

EQUITY AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING

  • We have been committed to creating and sustaining an equitable and inclusive environment for all students through Deep Equity and Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!) series for more than half a decade, and we have put in place many programs to support these initiatives. We know equity is a journey and won’t be reached quickly or easily. However, we need to be relentless in our pursuit of equity, inclusion and the elimination of racism in District 88 and our communities. Read more about our efforts at https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/11685.

  • We are continuing our work with Deep Equity, Youth Equity Stewardship, Trauma-Informed Practices and Restorative Practices. We are hosting virtual opportunities for students and staff to share their thoughts, feelings and potential action steps we can take as individuals and as a district to improve.

  • We invite you to participate in three upcoming virtual events to engage in this important work. See details at www.dupage88.net/EquityEvents.

We have implemented the District C.A.R.E. Team (Committed to Academics, Resiliency and Equity) for students and staff to expand and deepen our work in these areas.

AREAS OF FOCUS

  • District 88 will maintain its collaboration with Addison School District 4, School District 45, Salt Creek School District 48, Arbor Management, Chartwells and Cottage Hill Operating Company to provide free meals to residents who are 18 years old and younger. Food will be distributed from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays through August, and five days’ worth of food will be provided (five breakfasts and five lunches). To see more details about our food-service program, including locations and how adults can volunteer to help, go to www.dupage88.net/Coronavirus.

  • District 88 will continue to support the social and emotional well-being of students, staff, families and community members. See a list of available resources (including resources in Spanish) at www.dupage88.net/Coronavirus.

Our mission is to work for the continuous improvement of student achievement, and we will remain focused on accomplishing that goal. Thank you for your continued support of District 88.

Respectfully,
Scott J. Helton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools, DuPage High School District 88