Important updates from District 88

COVID-19 RE-OPENING PLAN-DUPAGE HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 88 RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN
As we continue to deal with the negative impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we would like to share the important update below.

DuPage County remains in the Substantial Community Transmission level – the highest of three levels – for the fifth consecutive week. The county is in the Substantial Community Transmission level for all six factors on the DuPage County COVID-19 School Metrics Guidance (see/click the image below for details).

As a result of these numbers, District 88 will maintain Remote Learning and will transition into an adaptive pause starting on Nov. 20, in alignment with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s implementation of Phase 4 Tier 3 Mitigations (see details at https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/restore-illinois-mitigation-plan). This means all in-person curricular and extracurricular activities (including athletics, clubs, learning centers and in-person instruction) will be suspended until further notice. It also includes the transition of teacher aides to remote work status, and administrative, clerical and technical staff will implement intermittent remote work status to minimize exposure (specific schedules to be determined by supervisors with team input).

During its Nov. 16 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education approved the administration’s use of adaptive pauses in the event of significant increases in COVID-19 case counts, local outbreaks and/or staff shortages due to exposures and quarantines. To watch the Board meeting presentation, click on the video above.

The district will continue to provide a robust curriculum and will connect with and care for students. The district is prepared to move to a hybrid/in-person environment when data and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gov. Pritzker, the Illinois and DuPage County health departments, the Illinois State Board of Education and the DuPage Regional Office of Education support that decision. For more information about District 88’s Return to School Plan, go to www.dupage88.net/ReturnToSchoolPlan.

IMPORTANT UPDATES

  • 2020-21 school calendar amendments: During its Nov. 16 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education approved the following amendments to the 2020-21 school calendar.

    • Semester 1 final exams: Final exams for semester 1 have been canceled, and those days (Dec. 16, 17 and 18) will now be regular school days. Teachers may use their discretion to administer cumulative assessments to help students earn passing grades.

    • Block schedule: We anticipate using the semester 1 block schedule again during semester 2 to provide flexibility to transition between the stages of our Remote Plan. Late-start Mondays have been removed from semester 2 to maintain the current schedule.

    • Curriculum Showcase/Course Information Night: Each year, Addison Trail and Willowbrook host these events to provide incoming and current students and parents/guardians with information about the academics, clubs, activities and sports at the schools. To accommodate the events this year, an early release was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. That date has been moved to Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, as Wednesdays are already comprised of an early release schedule.

      See the updated 2020-21 school calendar at www.dupage88.net/calendars.
  • Graduation requirement for the class of 2021: Starting this school year, seniors must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive a diploma. This is a new, mandatory graduation requirement from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

    • The FAFSA can be completed at https://fafsa.ed.gov. Schools will be notified after completion (no financial information will be shared with the schools).

    • Students who are ineligible to complete the FAFSA can fill out the Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act and Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid at www.isac.org/Alternative-Application. The schools will be notified after completion.

    • Students who don’t plan to continue their education after high school must complete the FAFSA Nonparticipation Form. CLICK HERE to complete the form, and return it to your counselor.

  • Resource Period changes: In response to feedback from staff, parents/guardians and students, we have decided to restructure the Resource Period. See the changes at https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/12359, which are now in effect.

  • Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT): As a result of DuPage County being in the Substantial Community Transmission level (see details above), and in the interest of the safety of our students and staff, we postponed the PSAT/NMSQT that was scheduled for Oct. 29. This optional assessment for juniors has been rescheduled to Jan. 26, 2021. All students who registered for the October test date will be rescheduled to the January test date. Students who have not yet registered can sign up for the January test (see details below).

    • Addison Trail students: Check your school e-mail for a link to register for the PSAT/NMSQT that will take place on Jan. 26, 2021.

    • Willowbrook students: E-mail Assistant Principal Jamie Gourley at jgourley@dupage88.net to register for the PSAT/NMSQT that will take place on Jan. 26, 2021.

  • Food service: Through our community food-service program, we will provide seven days’ worth of free meals from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Wednesday to all residents up to the age of 18. See details at https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/12216. PLEASE NOTE: Meals won't be served on Nov. 25 because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

  • McKinney-Vento: McKinney-Vento eligible children are those who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime abode. The Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, as part of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, ensures eligible children have the right to:

    • Choice of school
    • Immediate enrollment
    • Transportation
    • Preschool
    • Free lunch and fee waivers
    • Access to remote learning
    • Supplemental tutoring

For more information about McKinney-Vento services, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=5535.

IMPORTANT UPDATES REGARDING WINTER ATHLETICS
As we previously shared, we are going to continue analyzing the COVID-19 data to determine the best time frame to implement winter sports, as DuPage County remains in the Substantial Community Transmission level – the highest of three levels (see details above). This also aligns with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s Phase 4 Tier 3 Mitigations that were implemented on Nov. 20 (see details at https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/restore-illinois-mitigation-plan). To comply with those mitigations, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board has issued guidance to pause all IHSA winter sports and activities, effective Nov. 20. See the full IHSA press release at https://www.ihsa.org/News-Media/Announcements/ihsa-temporarily-pauses-sports-activities-under-new-state-mitigations.

We plan to run the sports listed below, but the start date for the season is to be determined (TBD). We understand the value and importance of athletics for students’ physical and mental well-being, and we will work with our coaches to ensure we stay connected with and support our pupils.

Winter sports:

  • Boys Swimming & Diving
  • Cheerleading
  • Dance (Poms)
  • Girls Bowling
  • Girls Gymnastics

At this time, we ask all student-athletes who plan to participate in winter sports to register online. This will help with a smooth transition after we’re able to start the season.

To ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, families and community members, we are following guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gov. Pritzker, the Illinois and DuPage County health departments, the Illinois State Board of Education and the DuPage Regional Office of Education. At this time, we haven’t received approval from those organizations to allow Boys and Girls Basketball to take place during the winter season. We will continue to monitor this sport and will share any provided updates.

GUIDANCE FROM STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

  • Return to School Framework: On Aug. 28, the DuPage County Health Department released a “Return to School Framework” with the DuPage Regional Office of Education. The framework recommends school officials review and consider the level of COVID-19 activity in their communities as they make decisions about shifting between learning models this school year. To view the document, go to www.dupagehealth.org/ReturnToSchool.

  • New learning standards: The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released new Illinois Priority Learning Standards. According to State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, “(ISBE) collaborated with a diverse and skilled team of educators from across the state to identify the Illinois Priority Learning Standards. The group focused on identifying learning standards that depict the knowledge, skills and dispositions we want all students to have – the standards that are the most foundational competencies, the most critical for success at subsequent grade levels and best suited for interdisciplinary or project-based learning.” CLICK HERE for more information.

  • Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) FAQs: This health-based Frequently Asked Questions document from the IDPH addresses many health-related questions. See the information at https://www.isbe.net/Documents/IDPH-School-FAQs.pdf.

  • Updates from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE): https://www.isbe.net/Pages/covid19.aspx and https://tinyurl.com/ISBEMessages 

PARENT AND STUDENT MEETINGS

  • We will continue to meet with parents/guardians as part of our Transition/Reopening Committee. The next meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 15, and an invitation to attend will be e-mailed to parents/guardians closer to that date.

  • We will continue to meet with students as part of our Return to School Student Advisory Committee. The next meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 16, and an invitation to attend will be e-mailed to students closer to that date.

  • On Dec. 17, we will host a Transition/Reopening Committee meeting for Spanish-speaking parents/guardians. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m., and an invitation to attend will be e-mailed to parents/guardians closer to that date.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES
Below are links to important information for those who are interested in running for the District 88 Board of Education during the Consolidated General Election on April 6, 2021.

Petitions are due between Dec. 14 and 21, 2020, and should be filed with the DuPage County Clerk, Election Division at 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187.

Three full (four-year) terms will be open on the District 88 Board during the upcoming election. Through the presentation links below, you’ll learn:

  1. Time requirements of being a Board member

  2. Expectations of being a Board member

  3. How to complete the filing/petition process
  • CLICK HERE to view important information for prospective Board members

  • CLICK HERE to view a packet for prospective Board members

  • CLICK HERE to watch a video of the presentation

OTHER AREAS OF FOCUS

  • Resources: District 88 will continue to care for 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.

  • Equity work: 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 assist with 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. We are maintaining our work with Deep Equity, YES!, Trauma-Informed Practices and Restorative Practices, and we also have implemented the District 88 C.A.R.E. Team (Committed to Academics, Resiliency and Equity) for students and staff to expand and deepen our work in these areas.

Thank you for your support of District 88 and our mission to work for the continuous improvement of student achievement.