More New Coronavirus Cases Among VVSD Staff, Students Last Week

BOLINGBROOK, IL — More students and staff members tested positive for the coronavirus last week than they did the week before in Valley View School District, according to the latest numbers.

As of Friday, 51 staff members and 18 students have tested positive since the beginning of the school year. The new cases last week numbered 11 for the employees, compared to eight employees who tested positive the week before, according to the district. Six students tested positive last week whereas the week before, the number was four.

The highest number of students since the beginning of the school year tested positive for the virus on Oct. 19, and the highest number of staff members reported positive cases on Oct. 24.

This comes after VVSD announced a two-week delay in its transition to hybrid learning. The Board of Education had unanimously approved the third stage of the Return Together 365U plan, which would see a phased return of students to classrooms over the coming weeks and will result in a hybrid learning model of both in-school and remote instruction for most students.

Early childhood students were supposed to begin going to school on Nov.2, Monday-Thursday, with Fridays reserved for asynchronous independent learning. Elementary students were also going to begin the same day and have in-person days assigned to them on the basis of their last names, according to the approved plan.

But now, transition to hybrid learning on-site will take place on Nov. 16. Early childhood students are now scheduled to return to four-day per week on site learning the week of Nov. 16 as well.