D300's 4 Scenarios For Returning To School In Fall: Heid

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — As school officials across the suburbs grapple with how to handle the upcoming school year, District 300 Superintendent presented four scenarios potential options for safely resuming classes in the coming months. He said the four scenarios, which have not been finalized and will likely change considering conditions surrounding the coronavirus, range from in-class instruction with few social distancing mandates to reopening with virtual instruction only.

The two other scenarios fall somewhere in the middle of those options. One scenario would include returning to school with social distancing in place, which would only allow for 12 to 17 kids per classroom. That scenario could require a modified school schedule, which could mean a portion of the students would attend school while the rest would be at home and participating in e-learning instructions. And then those students would "flip flop," allowing for fewer students in schools and an opportunity to interact directly with peers and teachers, Heid said.

That scenario would likely include grab and go lunches and students eating in classrooms instead of cafeterias and the possibility for reduced capacity on busses.

That scenario, Heid said during the school board meeting Tuesday, "looks good on paper but sounds ridiculous."

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A fourth scenario would involve reopening schools for some students and spreading that student population out D300 schools. For example, it could include just first through third grades as well as special needs students returning for in-person instruction.

"It seems a simple solution to say, 'well, let's bring all the elementary students back and even if you don't have enough classrooms in the building, we could put them in other buildings," Heid said Tuesday. "Well, quite frankly, that creates a logistical nightmare."

He said the change could make planning for staffing and transportation very difficult. Administrators could be spread across multiple buildings and children might need to be bussed away from their neighborhood school.

In the coming weeks, the Illinois State Board of Education is expected to provide guidance to school districts on what they believe to be the best options for schools this fall. Illinois is currently in Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's reopening plan. In recent weeks, Pritzker said he's hopeful the state will reach Phase 4 by the end of the month. In Phase 4, all schools can resume in-person instruction.

As of right now, Heid says he does not think District 300 will need to rely solely on e-learning.

"I do believe that we will see some sort of school reopening in August with traditional face-to-face instruction," he said. "Whether its significantly restricted or partially limited has yet to be determined."

Heid also suggested the school board start thinking about a possible schedule change for the coming school year. For example, he said it may be best to start after Labor Day this year. This change could allow schools to, if the district believed conditions surrounding the coronavirus may improve, start with e-learning in August with plans to start in-class instruction after Labor Day.

Or, Heid said, the students could simply start all instruction in person after Labor Day.

"This is something we are considering depending on what happens in mid-July or late-July or even early-August where a decision would have to be made," Heid said.