Important message from District 88: COVID-19 and Return to School Plan updates

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.

Setting Phase 4

 

 Bridge to Phase 5
Outdoor spectator events 15 people per 1,000 square feet 30 people per 1,000 square feet
Spectator events
(ticketed and seated)		 Indoor venue with capacity < 200 people: Lesser of 50 people or 50-percent capacity *

Outdoor venue or indoor venue with capacity ≥ 200 people: 25-percent capacity *

 

 60-percent capacity
Theaters and
performing arts		 Indoor venue with capacity < 200 persons: Lesser of 50 or 50-percent capacity

Outdoor venue or indoor venue with capacity ≥ 200 persons: 25-percent capacity *

 

 60-percent capacity
Recreation Indoor: Lesser of 50 people or 50-percent capacity

Outdoor: Maximum groups of 50; multiple groups permissible

 Indoor: Lesser of 100 people or 50-percent capacity

Outdoor: Maximum groups of 100; multiple groups permissible
Social events Indoor: Lesser of 50 people or 50-percent capacity *

Outdoor: Lesser of 100 people or 50-percent capacity *

 Indoor: 250 people

Outdoor: 500 people

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* 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

Assessment Date Other important dates/information Students
SAT April 13, 2021 Makeup test dates:
April 27 and May 18

Accommodations testing window: April 13-27

The essay portion is eliminated for spring 2021

Class of 2021 students are exempt from the SAT as a graduation requirement

 Class of 2022
PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9

 

 Eliminated in spring 2021 and will not be offered by ISBE in fall 2021    
Illinois Science Assessment Fall: August 9 - October 8, 2021   Students who were in grade 11 during the 2020-21 school year
ACCESS May 2021  

English Learners identified via provisional screening should participate in ACCESS testing for school year 2021.

District 88 will test ESL 3 students.

 


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.

Thank you for your continued support of District 88.