UPDATES: District 88 2020-21 Return to School Plan

UPDATES - 04/27/21

On April 27, District 88 hosted virtual meetings with students and parents/guardians to provide updates.

Below are highlights of the information that was shared:

• During its April 26 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education approved the appointment of Interim Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente as the district’s new Superintendent, effective July 1, 2021

• Dr. Barbanente’s vision for the future direction of District 88
  
  
• End-of-school-year events (including concerts, student recognitions, senior celebrations and graduation)
  
  
  • Willowbrook will host three graduation ceremonies for the class of 2021 (at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon) on May 23. Details will be shared with seniors and their families.
    
    
  • Addison Trail will host three graduation ceremonies for the class of 2021 (at 2 p.m., 3:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.) on May 23. Details will be shared with seniors and their families.
    
    
• Final exams for semester 2 have been canceled, and those days (May 26, 27 and 28) will now be regular school days. Teachers may use their discretion to administer cumulative assessments to help students earn passing grades.
  
  
• Summer school offerings
  
  
• Plans for the 2021-22 school year
  
  
• Building facility projects

To watch the meeting, click the video above.

To view the PowerPoint presentation, click the link below.

04/27/21 presentation

UPDATES - 03/23/21

During the March 22 District 88 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved the administration's recommendation to have all students who chose the hybird learning model attend school in person four days a week, starting on April 5.

• This recommendation is based on the Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education, which states, “Social distance for in-person learning is now defined as 3 to 6 feet for students and fully vaccinated staff. Maintaining 6 feet remains the safest distance, but schools can operate at no less than 3 feet in order to provide in-person learning. Capacity limits for in-person learning, including non-academic school hour activities ... are now determined by the space’s ability to accommodate social distancing, and not a set capacity limit number or percentage.” CLICK HERE to view the guidance in Spanish.
  
  
• We will continue to offer full-remote instruction for students who choose that option. We want to assure our students and parents/guardians that we will continue to provide a robust virtual curriculum. All students – whether they are learning on campus or from home – will receive the same instruction, attention and opportunities from teachers.
  
  
• Families who would like to switch from hybrid to remote can request this change at any time, to be implemented immediately.
  
  
• Families who would like to switch from remote instruction to the hybrid model can request this change at any time. See important details below.
  
  
  • PLEASE NOTE: Requests received by 10 a.m. on Friday of each week will be implemented the next week. After your request is approved, your student can begin coming on campus for in-person learning the following Monday (to ensure we have space to comply with social distancing).

District 88 shared this information during a Parent Transition/Reopening Committee meeting on March 23.

03/23/21 Return to School Plan presentation

Above is a recording of the meeting, as well as the presentation shared.

The presentation highlights:

• Videos and information regarding student expectations
• The schedule for students starting on April 5
• Return-to-School Procedures for students
• Plans for in-person graduation ceremonies and events to recognize and honor the class of 2021
• Updates with assessments
• Summer school details
• A reminder that students who travel out of state during spring break will need to quarantine for at least one week. We strongly encourage families to comply with this recommendation and notify the school nurse if you plan to travel (Addison Trail nurse: 630-628-3335, Willowbrook nurse: 630-530-3457).
• 2021-22 school year plans: Our intention is to be fully in person in a traditional schedule in the fall. Remote learning options in the fall will depend on student access to the vaccines and directives from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education. To view the 2021-22 school year calendar, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/23.

To see District 88’s Return to School Plan, go to www.dupage88.net/ReturntoSchoolPlan.

UPDATES - 03/19/21

Pictured is District 88 Interim Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente.

IMPORTANT UPDATES
We are excited to share recent updates that will allow us to continue moving forward and accelerating along our path to provide more in-person opportunities for students.

On March 18, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced a metrics-based pathway toward the fifth and final phase of the Restore Illinois reopening plan. All regions of the state will move through these next phases together. According to a press release, “This Bridge to Phase 5 will allow for higher capacity limits and increased business operations, before public health experts tell us it’s safe to move to the new normal that Phase 5 will bring.”

We are currently in Phase 4, and the metrics being used to move the state forward and back can be viewed at https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=5752.

Gov. Pritzker also implemented updated spectator capacity limits for Phase 4 (our current status), as well as the Bridge to Phase 5 (when we’re able to transition to that phase). See the chart below for details.

* Denotes expanded activity in Phase 4 ^ Capacity applied for event sizes above the capacity limits allowed for social events

To view the full list, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=5752.

FUTURE PLANS

As we previously shared, based on the Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools recently provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the District 88 administration will make the following recommendations during the March 22 District 88 Board of Education meeting.

• Request approval to bring students in person four days a week (starting April 5 through the end of the school year).
  
  This recommendation is based on the new guidance, which states, “Social distance for in-person learning is now defined as 3 to 6 feet for students and fully vaccinated staff. Maintaining 6 feet remains the safest distance, but schools can operate at no less than 3 feet in order to provide in-person learning. Capacity limits for in-person learning, including non-academic school hour activities ... are now determined by the space’s ability to accommodate social distancing, and not a set capacity limit number or percentage.”
  
  
• Graduation and senior celebrations: During the March 22 District 88 Board of Education meeting and the March 23 student and parent meetings, we will present recommendations for in-person commencement ceremonies and events to recognize and honor the class of 2021.
  
  
• 2021-22 school year: Based on this updated guidance, our intention is to be fully in person in a traditional schedule in the fall. Our remote learning options in the fall will depend on student access to the vaccines and directives from the IDPH and the ISBE. To view the 2021-22 school year calendar, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/23.

To see District 88’s Return to School Plan, go to www.dupage88.net/ReturntoSchoolPlan.

PARENT AND STUDENT MEETINGS

We will continue to meet with parents/guardians and students to discuss the above items in more detail.

• On March 23, we will host a Return to School Student Advisory Committee meeting. The event will begin at 5 p.m. To register, contact District 88 Director of Community Relations Dani Brink at dbrink@dupage88.net or 630-530-3989.
  
  
• On March 23, we will host a Parent Transition/Reopening Committee meeting. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. To register, contact District 88 Director of Community Relations Dani Brink at dbrink@dupage88.net or 630-530-3989.

ASSESSMENT UPDATES

DISTRICT 88 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
The next District 88 Board of Education meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on March 22. See details below.

• Members of the public who would like to listen to the meeting can access a live audio stream at www.dupage88.net/boardstream.
  
  
• To view the meeting agenda, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/2936.
  
  
• Public comments can be submitted online at www.dupage88.net/BoardMeetingCard or sent by e-mail to District 88 Director of Community Relations Dani Brink at dbrink@dupage88.net.

Thank you for your continued support of District 88.

UPDATES - 03/12/21

Pictured is District 88 Interim Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente.

We are excited to share that on March 9, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provided Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools. These updates include the lifting of several restrictions, which will allow us to accelerate our path to offering more in-person opportunities for students.

Our dates to transition to Phase 3 (Blended Remote/Hybrid) of our Return to School Plan will remain the same as previously shared and are outlined below.

• March 18: Begin hybrid with students who are already attending in person during Remote Plus.
  
  
• March 22: Run the full hybrid schedule as planned (with two student groups split by alpha – students will be in person two days). See the schedule at https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=5677.

As a result of the new guidance, the District 88 administration will make the following recommendations during the March 22 District 88 Board of Education meeting:

• Request approval to combine the two hybrid groups and bring students in person four days a week – starting April 5 through the end of the school year.
  
  This recommendation is based on the new guidance, which states, “Social distance for in-person learning is now defined as 3 to 6 feet for students and fully vaccinated staff. Maintaining 6 feet remains the safest distance, but schools can operate at no less than 3 feet in order to provide in-person learning. Capacity limits for in-person learning, including non-academic school hour activities ... are now determined by the space’s ability to accommodate social distancing, and not a set capacity limit number or percentage.”
  
  
• Graduation and senior celebrations: During the March 22 District 88 Board of Education meeting and the March 23 student and parent meetings, we will present recommendations for in-person commencement ceremonies and events to recognize and honor the class of 2021.
  
  
• 2021-22 school year: Based on this updated guidance, our intention is to be fully in person in a traditional schedule in the fall. Our remote learning options in the fall will depend on student access to the vaccines and directives from the IDPH and the ISBE. During its March 8 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education approved the 2021-22 school year calendar. To view that calendar, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/23.

Other guidance for families:

• According to the revised guidance, students who travel out of state during spring break will need to quarantine for at least one week. We strongly encourage families to comply with this recommendation and notify the school nurse if you plan to travel (Addison Trail nurse: 630-628-3335, Willowbrook nurse: 630-530-3457).

• We will continue to offer full-remote instruction for students who choose that option. I want to assure our students and parents/guardians that we will continue to provide a robust virtual curriculum. All students – whether they are learning on campus or from home – will receive the same instruction, attention and opportunities from teachers.
  
  
• Families who would like to switch from hybrid to remote can request this change at any time to be implemented immediately.
  
  
• Families who would like to switch from remote instruction to the hybrid model can request this change at any time. Please see important details below.
  
  
  • Requests received by 10 a.m. on Friday of each week will be implemented the next week. After your request is approved, your student can begin coming on campus for in-person learning the following Monday (to ensure we have space to comply with social distancing).
    
    
• Student Expectations for In-Person Learning:
  
  
  • Complete the Wellness and Symptom Screener prior to arriving on campus.
    
    
  • Complete a temperature check upon entry.
    
    
  • Masks shall be worn at all times, in compliance with CDC Guidance.
    
    
  • Maintain social distance by being 3 to 6 feet apart.
    
    
  • During passing periods, continue directly to your next classroom, and do not congregate or stop in the hallways.
    
    
  • Lockers won’t be in use.
    
    
  • Water fountains have been disabled, except for bottle filler devices.
    
    
  • Food isn’t allowed in classrooms.
    
    
  • Students should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon arrival to campus, when entering the classroom (hand sanitizer) and whenever deemed necessary by the student or the teacher.
    
    
    • Students shall be allowed to leave the classroom to wash their hands at any time. Passes are not required for leaving the classroom, but might be required in the future as more students attend in person.
      
      
    • Hands should be washed often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
      
      
    • It is recommended that hand hygiene is performed upon arrival to and departure from school; after blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing; and following restroom use.
      
      
  • Students who demonstrate consistent coughing or sneezing will be directed to the nurse for further consultation.
    
    
  • In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, school administrators will notify local health officials, staff and families immediately of any case of COVID-19, while maintaining confidentiality.

• Athletic updates: The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recently released updates with regard to spectator limitations from the IDPH. See details below and at https://www.ihsa.org/Resources/COVID-19. Please note these guidelines have been adopted by the entire West Suburban Conference.
  
  

Parent and student meetings:
We will continue to meet with parents/guardians and students to discuss the above items in more detail.

• On March 18, we will host a Transition/Reopening Committee meeting for Spanish-speaking parents/guardians. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m., and you can register at https://forms.gle/EuiWvaD4q35qMJ6i7.

• On March 23, we will host a Return to School Student Advisory Committee meeting. The event will begin at 5 p.m., and an invitation to attend will be e-mailed to students closer to that date.
  
  
• On March 23, we will host a Parent Transition/Reopening Committee meeting. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m., and an invitation to attend will be e-mailed to parents closer to that date.

Thank you for your continued support of District 88.

UPDATES - 02/26/21

Pictured is District 88 Interim Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente.

District 88 Return to School Plan

We are so excited to have more of our students safely return to campus each week, following the policies and procedures we have in place regarding social distancing, health and cleaning protocols. While we are currently in Stage 2 (Remote Plus) of our Return to School Plan, during its Feb. 22 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education approved the administration’s recommendation to go to Stage 3 (Blended Remote/Hybrid) of our plan in March. The transition to Stage 3 will begin on March 18 with a small, targeted group of students. A full transition will be implemented on March 22.

During Stage 3 (Blended Remote/Hybrid), students will have the opportunity to receive instruction from inside the classroom two days a week. The daily block schedule will remain the same for all students (whether in person or remote). For more information about Stage 3, including important updates regarding transportation and operational procedures, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/12604.

Student Expectations for In-Person Learning

• Complete Wellness and Symptom Screener prior to arriving on campus.

• Complete temperature check upon entry.
  
  
• Masks shall be worn at all times in compliance with CDC Guidance.
  
  
• Maintain social distance by being 6 feet apart.
  
  
• During passing periods, continue directly to your next classroom and do not congregate or stop in the hallways.
  
  
• Lockers will not be in use.
  
  
• Water fountains have been disabled, except for bottle filler devices.
  
  
• Food is not allowed in classrooms.
  
  
• Students should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon arrival to campus, when entering the classroom (hand sanitizer), and whenever deemed necessary by the student or the teacher.
  
  
  • Students shall be allowed to leave the classroom to wash their hands at any time. Passes are not required for leaving the classroom.
    
    
  • Hands should be washed often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
    
    
  • It is recommended that hand hygiene is performed upon arrival to and departure from school; after blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing; and following restroom use.
    
    
  • Students who demonstrate consistent coughing or sneezing will be directed to the Nurse for further consultation.
    
    
• In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, school administrators will notify local health officials, staff and families immediately of any case of COVID-19, while maintaining confidentiality.

We understand there are still questions and concerns – particularly regarding graduation and prom for the class of 2021 and what lies ahead for the 2021-22 school year. I assure you we are looking at a variety of options to celebrate our seniors, and we will continue to monitor regulations and guidelines to provide a safe and robust learning environment this fall. We will share more details as they become available. We know this has been a long and difficult year, and we appreciate the support and partnership of our stakeholders as we work together through this unprecedented situation to protect the health, safety and well-being of our students, staff and community members.

Our Return to School Plan is aligned with the DuPage County COVID-19 School Metrics Guidance. That guidance consists of six metrics that feed into three Community Transmission Levels (Minimal, Moderate or Substantial). Our Return to School Plan consists of three stages – Remote, Remote Plus and Blended Remote/Hybrid – and those stages are tied to the metrics. We are transitioning through the stages of our plan based on the movement of the county metrics. Although DuPage County remains in the Substantial Community Transmission Level, we are seeing improved numbers throughout the county and state at this time, and we are thrilled this will allow us to provide more opportunities for students to be in school. For details and the most up-to-date information about our Return to School Plan, go to www.dupage88.net/ReturntoSchoolPlan.

UPDATES - 02/23/21

02/23/21 Return to School Plan presentation

During its Feb. 22 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education approved the administration’s recommendation to move to Stage 3 of the district’s Return to School Plan (blended remote/hybrid) in March.

The transition to Stage 3 will begin on March 18 with a small, targeted group of students. A full transition will be implemented on March 22.

District 88 shared this information during a Parent Transition/Reopening Committee meeting on Feb. 23. Above is a recording of the meeting, as well as the presentation shared.

For more information about District 88’s Return to School Plan, including details regarding Stage 3 (blended remote/hybrid), go to www.dupage88.net/ReturnToSchoolPlan.

UPDATES - 02/12/21

Pictured is District 88 Interim Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente.

Despite dealing with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we are excited to provide opportunities for students to come on campus in a controlled environment that follows the policies, procedures and guidance in place regarding social distancing, health and cleaning protocols.

This week, it was wonderful to have music fill the halls as Jazz Band and CenterStage (show choir) students rehearsed. The auditoriums also were buzzing with energy as our thespians returned to the stage, and we welcomed members of National Honor Society, Orchesis, SkillsUSA, International Dance Show, Scholastic Bowl and Key Club. Our winter sports season is going strong as well, with student-athletes practicing and competing in the gym and on the court. We anticipate hosting more extracurricular activities in the buildings in the coming weeks.

The Board of Education recently approved transitioning to Stage 2 of our Return to School Plan (Remote Plus), which will begin on Feb. 22. During this stage, staff will begin to bring more students in for in-person learning. We will prioritize students who are struggling in remote learning, as well as curricular areas that require hands-on experiences (i.e. Career and Technical Education, Fine Arts, etc.). All self-contained programming will return to campus on March 2. Driver Education also will begin, and details will be sent to eligible students.

It’s wonderful to see our students back in the schools, and we look forward to providing more in-person options as the county’s COVID-19 numbers improve. In late February and early March, we will host events for seniors and freshmen, with opportunities for sophomores and juniors as well. We will recommend moving to Stage 3 of our plan (Blended Remote/Hybrid) later in the spring, if this positive trend toward lower case counts continues toward minimal community transmission.

Our No. 1 priority remains the health, safety and well-being of our students, staff and community members, and we maintain our practice of following data and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois and DuPage County health departments, the Illinois State Board of Education and the DuPage Regional Office of Education.

As part of that focus, we aligned our Return to School Plan with the DuPage County COVID-19 School Metrics Guidance. That guidance is comprised of six metrics that feed into three Community Transmission Levels (Minimal, Moderate or Substantial). Our Return to School Plan consists of three stages – Remote, Remote Plus and Blended Remote/Hybrid – and those stages are tied to the metrics. We are transitioning through the stages of our plan based on the movement of the county metrics, and we are prepared to move to a hybrid environment as soon as the data supports that decision. For details and the most up-to-date information about our Return to School Plan, go to www.dupage88.net/ReturntoSchoolPlan.

Parent and student meetings:
We understand this is a challenging and unprecedented time for everyone, and we will continue to meet with parents/guardians and students. We have hosted meetings with parents since June 30 and with students since Aug. 19 to speak with them directly, share updated information and respond to their questions and concerns.

• On Feb. 9, we hosted a meeting for parents/guardians to discuss the 2020-21 school year and the district’s Return to School Plan. A recording of that meeting, as well as the presentation shared, can be viewed at https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/12583.
  
  
• On Feb. 18, we will host a Transition/Reopening Committee meeting for Spanish-speaking parents/guardians. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. To register, contact District 88 Director of Community Relations Dani Brink at dbrink@dupage88.net or 630-530-3989.
  
  
• On Feb. 23, we will host a Return to School Student Advisory Committee meeting. The event will begin at 5 p.m., and an invitation to attend will be e-mailed to students closer to that date.
  
  
• On Feb. 23, we will host a Parent Transition/Reopening Committee meeting. 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.

COVID-19 resources:

District 88 is partnering with organizations throughout DuPage County to compile a list of COVID-19 resources to assist residents in the following areas:

• Child care
• COVID-19 (testing sites, vaccine information and more)
• Finances
• Food
• Internet
• Jobs
• Mental health and well-being
• Remote learning/education
• Things to do

View the list at https://tinyurl.com/DuPageResources. The information will be updated frequently, so be sure to check the list often.

If you have a resource to add, complete the form at http://www.dupage88.net/DuPageCountyResources, or e-mail dbrink@dupage88.net.

District 88 also is committed to making sure students continue to receive food service, and we are partnering with Chartwells and Cottage Hill Operating Company to host a community food-service program. See the food distribution details below.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE FOOD SERVICE?

• This service is provided free of charge to all residents up to the age of 18.
  
  
• Seven days’ worth of meals will be distributed (seven breakfasts and seven lunches).

WHAT IS THE COST OF THE MEALS?

• Meals are free for eligible community members.

WHEN WILL FOOD BE DISTRIBUTED?

• Food will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Wednesday.

WHERE WILL FOOD BE DISTRIBUTED?

• Addison Trail High School, 213 N. Lombard Road in Addison – Door 6

*PLEASE NOTE: On Feb. 17, food will be distributed at door 2.

• Willowbrook High School, 1250 S. Ardmore Ave. in Villa Park – Door 6

WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?

• Addison Trail Principal Michael Bolden at mbolden@dupage88.net or 630-628-3301
  
  
• Willowbrook Principal Dr. Daniel Krause at dkrause@dupage88.net or 630-530-3438
  
  
• District 88 Chief Financial Officer Ed Hoster at ehoster@dupage88.net or 630-530-3970

COVID-19 vaccines:

• Osco Pharmacy and Genoa Healthcare, in collaboration with DuPage High School District 88, are offering appointments on Feb. 17, 18, 20 and 21 for senior citizens who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For details/eligibility requirements, and to register for the COVID-19 vaccine, go to https://tinyurl.com/FebVaccines.
  
  
• District 88, under the guidance of the DuPage County Health Department and the DuPage Regional Office of Education, will provide vaccines on Feb. 17 and 18 for staff members at districts 4, 45, 48, 88, SASED, Technology Center of DuPage and parochial schools within District 88’s boundaries. The second dose is scheduled for March 10 and 11.

Thank you for your continued support of District 88.

UPDATES - 02/09/21

02/09/21 Return to School Plan presentation

On Feb. 9, District 88 hosted a meeting for parents/guardians to discuss the 2020-21 school year and the district’s Return to School Plan.

Above is a recording of the meeting, as well as the presentation shared.

UPDATES - 02/02/21

As we continue to deal with the negative impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, District 88 Interim Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente shares information regarding the district’s Return to School Plan.

Please view Dr. Barbanente’s video message and PowerPoint presentation below. Thank you.

Return to School Plan PowerPoint presentation 02-02-21

UPDATES - 01/29/21

DuPage County metrics:
As we continue to deal with the negative impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we maintain our practice of following data and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois and DuPage County health departments, the Illinois State Board of Education and the DuPage Regional Office of Education to make decisions in the best interest of the safety and well-being of our students, staff and community members. For more information about District 88’s Return to School Plan, go to www.dupage88.net/ReturnToSchoolPlan.

As part of that focus, we aligned our Return to School Plan with the DuPage County COVID-19 School Metrics Guidance. The guidance is comprised of six metrics that feed into three Community Transmission Levels (Minimal, Moderate or Substantial).

• Current DuPage County Transmission Level: Substantial (CLICK HERE for details)

• Previous statistics can be viewed HERE.
  
  
• On Jan. 26, the Illinois Department of Public Health moved DuPage County (region 8) to Tier 1 (CLICK HERE to see mitigation details).

Future plans:

We plan to implement the following, provided the community transmission levels don’t increase.

• Jan. 25: We ended our adaptive pause (which was implemented on Nov. 20 and suspended all in-person curricular and extracurricular activities).
  
  
• Feb. 1: Learning centers may resume.
  
  
• Feb 8: Other activities allowed in Stage 1 of the district’s Return to School Plan (referred to as Remote) may resume, including the identification of individual students for specialized in-person instruction, intervention, support and/or related services.
  
  
• As mentioned above, our Return to School Plan is tied to the DuPage County metrics. When the county moves to the Moderate Community Transmission Level, we will recommend transitioning to Stage 2 of our plan, referred to as Remote Plus. To see details of Stage 2, CLICK HERE.
  
  
• After we move to Stage 2: Remote Plus, we will prioritize activities for seniors and freshmen (to help them acclimate to the school buildings).
  
  
• During Stage 2: Remote Plus, we encourage teachers, coaches and sponsors to continue to connect with and care for students through providing curricular and extracurricular “in-person” activities that can be done in a cohort model. All activities must follow the policies, procedures and guidance that are in place regarding social distancing, health and cleaning protocols.

Athletic updates:

• As mentioned above, the Illinois Department of Public Health recently updated the status of regions throughout the state. As a result, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) released new guidelines and an updated 2020-21 sports schedule. Those updates and further details can be viewed HERE.

• As we previously shared, the following sports have been approved to begin for the winter season.
  • Boys Swimming & Diving
  • Cheerleading
  • Dance (Poms)
  • Boys/Girls Bowling
  • Girls Gymnastics
  • Badminton
    
    
  • On Jan. 27, the IHSA added Boys/Girls Basketball to that list. As basketball has been defined as a high-risk sport, we are looking into this closely and will share more information as soon as possible.

UPDATES - 01/22/21

As we continue to deal with the negative impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we maintain our practice of following data and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois and DuPage County health departments, the Illinois State Board of Education and the DuPage Regional Office of Education to make decisions in the best interest of the safety and well-being of our students, staff and community members.

As part of that focus, we previously aligned our Return to School Plan with the DuPage County COVID-19 School Metrics Guidance. The guidance is comprised of six metrics that feed into three Community Transmission Levels (Minimal, Moderate or Substantial). Below is a link to the county’s current metrics and levels.

DuPage County Recent School Metrics

*Previous statistics can be viewed at https://www.dupagehealth.org/595/Schools-and-Daycares.

On Jan. 18, DuPage County (region 8) was moved to Phase 4 Tier 2 mitigation. While the county remains in “substantial transmission,” as a result of this change in status and improved numbers, District 88 will implement the following (provided the community transmission levels don’t increase):

1. Jan. 25: District 88 will end its adaptive pause (which was implemented on Nov. 20 and suspended all in-person curricular and extracurricular activities).
   
   
2. Jan. 25: District 88 will begin winter sports. See important details below. Student-athletes will receive communication from their coaches with specific details.
   
   Approved winter sports are:

   - Boys Swimming & Diving
   - Cheerleading
   - Dance (Poms)
   - Girls Bowling
   - Girls Gymnastics
   - Girls Badminton
   - At this time, we haven’t received approval from state health organizations or the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to allow Boys and Girls Basketball to take place during the winter season. We will continue to monitor these sports and will share any provided updates.

   Student-athletes who plan to participate in winter sports must register online at the links below.

   - Addison Trail registration: CLICK HERE

   - Willowbrook registration: CLICK HERE

   On Jan. 22, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provided Sports Safety Guidance. To view that information, go to https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/sports-safety-guidance.

3. Feb. 1: Learning centers may resume.
   
   
4. Feb 8: Other activities allowed in Stage 1 of the district’s Return to School Plan (referred to as Remote) may resume, including the identification of individual students for specialized in-person instruction, intervention, support and/or related services.

Future steps:

1. As mentioned above, our Return to School Plan is tied to the DuPage County metrics. When the county moves to the Moderate Community Transmission Level, we will recommend transitioning to Stage 2 of our plan, referred to as Remote Plus. To see details of Stage 2, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=5475.
   
   
2. After we move to Stage 2: Remote Plus, we will prioritize activities for seniors and freshmen (to help them acclimate to the school buildings).
   
   
3. During Stage 2: Remote Plus, we encourage teachers, coaches and sponsors to continue to connect with and care for students through providing curricular and extracurricular “in-person” activities that can be done in a cohort model. All activities must follow the policies, procedures and guidance that are in place regarding social distancing, health and cleaning protocols.

We will provide weekly updates to parents via e-mail as we continue to monitor this situation. For more information about District 88’s Return to School Plan, go to www.dupage88.net/ReturnToSchoolPlan. Thank you for your continued support of District 88.

UPDATES - 11/18/20

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. 

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.

UPDATES - 11/12/20

Resource Period changes: In response to feedback from staff, parents/guardians and students, we have decided to restructure the Resource Period. Please see the changes below, which will be implemented on Nov. 19.

1. Afternoon resource time will remain remote for all students, teachers and teacher aides.
   
   
2. Teachers will host office hours during resource for their own classroom students who need more help/support remotely.
   
   
3. Teachers may require a student to meet with them during resource.
   
   
4. Teachers are expected to schedule mandatory resource time minimally once a week for students who are experiencing academic difficulty and/or are below a grade of “C.” However, all students are able to access Resource Period, regardless of their grade.
   
   
5. Students will be required to attend their assigned Resource Period on Thursdays.
   
   
6. All student-support resources (Library Media Center, Academic Resource Center and LSC) will remain available during Resource Period.

UPDATES - 10/20/20

On Oct. 19, DuPage County moved from the Moderate Community Transmission level to the Substantial Community Transmission level on the DuPage County COVID-19 School Metrics Guidance (http://www.dupagehealth.org/ReturnToSchool). The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) reported the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people moved to 115 per 100,000 (the threshold for Substantial Community Transmission is 100 cases per 100,000).

In the DCHD model, there are three levels of transmission we are monitoring weekly: Minimal, Moderate and Substantial Community Transmission. Each of these levels is determined by a variety of factors, including:

• The county-level risk metric color (Orange or Blue)
• Weekly cases per 100,000 people
• Changes in the weekly county overall case numbers
• Changes in the weekly county youth numbers (under the age of 20)
• Positivity rates
• The neighboring/regional indicator level (Cook, Kane, and Will). As health experts learn more about COVID and community spread, these metrics may be modified or changed

DuPage County’s level of COVID-19 community transmission is determined by the highest category in which a single metric is met or exceeded. When considering a shift to more in-person learning, all metrics should be under the identified thresholds for a given level for at least two consecutive weeks.

On Oct. 5, the District 88 Board of Education approved the administration's recommendation to align the COVID-19 Re-Opening Plan-DuPage High School District 88 Return to School Plan with the DuPage County return to school framework and the DuPage County COVID-19 School Metrics Guidance. The Board also approved the administration's recommendation to transition from Stage 1 (Remote Learning) to Stage 2 (Remote Plus Learning) of the plan starting on Oct. 19, provided conditions remain in the Moderate Community Transmission category.

As a result of DuPage County moving to the Substantial Community Transmission level, the Board approved during its Oct. 19 meeting the administration’s recommendation to extend Stage 1 (Remote Learning) of the district’s Return to School Plan until the DCHD metrics indicate Moderate Community Transmission (this will take at least two weeks). Contact Days for athletics and activities also are canceled until that time. Based on guidance and data provided by Centers for Disease Control, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois and DuPage County health departments, the Illinois State Board of Education and the DuPage Regional Office of Education, we believe this is the best decision at this time to ensure the health, well-being and safety of our students, staff, families and community members.

UPDATES - 10/05/20

During its Oct. 5 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education approved the administration's recommendation to align the COVID-19 Re-Opening Plan-DuPage High School District 88 Return to School Plan with the DuPage County return to school framework and the DuPage County COVID-19 School Metrics Guidance that was released on August 28, 2020 (http://www.dupagehealth.org/ReturnToSchool).

The Board also approved the administration's recommendation to transition from Stage 1 (Remote Learning) to Stage 2 (Remote Plus Learning) of the plan. The transition will be implemented on Oct. 19, provided conditions remain in the Moderate Community Transmission category. Read more below.

Per the authority of the District 88 Board of Education at the July 27, 2020, Board of Education Meeting, the district has been in Stage 1-Remote Learning since August 24, 2020. The Board of Education agreed to review, discuss and reevaluate the status of the COVID-19 Re-Opening Plan-DuPage High School District 88 Return to School Plan for the 2020-21 school year at the October 5, 2020, Board of Education Meeting.

As we continue to face the challenges of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) has been working closely with the DuPage Regional Office of Education (ROE) and school district administrators in DuPage County to help inform decisions about school reopening plans this fall. The DCHD has created a county-wide “back to school framework” (which provides guidelines/recommendations for different learning models based on disease activity levels in the county) as we make decisions about whether and when to shift between Remote, Remote Plus, and Blended Remote learning models in District 88 this school year. That document can be viewed at http://www.dupagehealth.org/ReturnToSchool. The DCHD recommends that in any learning model, school districts follow the health and safety protocols set forth by state and local health officials. Although they do not have formal authority to endorse or support a specific approach, the DCHD has reviewed the District 88 plan and has found it to be consistent with their “return to school” framework guidance document.

In the DCHD model, there are three levels of transmission that we will be monitoring weekly: Minimal, Moderate, and Substantial Community Transmission. Each of these levels is determined by a variety of factors, including:

• The county-level risk metric color (Orange or Blue)
• Weekly cases per 100,000 people
• Changes in the weekly county overall case numbers
• Changes in the weekly county youth numbers (under the age of 20)
• Positivity rates
• The neighboring/regional indicator level (Cook, Kane, and Will). As health experts learn more about COVID and community spread, these metrics may be modified or changed

DuPage County’s Level of COVID-19 Community Transmission is determined by the highest category in which a single metric is met or exceeded. For example, if one metric is met or exceeded in the “Substantial Community Transmission” category, DuPage County will be at that level. When considering a shift to more in-person learning, all metrics should be under the identified thresholds for a given level for at least 2 consecutive weeks. For example, all metrics in the “Minimal Community Transmission” category should be below the identified thresholds for at least 2 consecutive weeks before DuPage County will be listed in the “Minimal Community Transmission” level.

UPDATES - 07/27/20

During a Special Board of Education meeting on July 27, the Board approved a resolution authorizing our administrative team to open and operate the district’s schools and programs for the 2020-21 school year, as outlined in the Return to School Plan.

The Board approved starting the 2020-21 school year with Remote Learning through Oct. 5, at which time the Board and administration will reevaluate the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Return to School Plan. During this stage, all instruction and resource support will be remote (with exceptions for special student populations).