District 99 Proposes Hybrid Learning Plan Amid Coronavirus

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Community Unit High School District 99 has proposed a hybrid learning model for the 2020-21 school year as long as Illinois remains in phase four of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan, according to the district's website.

The plan would combine remote, independent and in-person learning, with students split into schedules alphabetically. District officials wrote that this will "reduce the number of people in the building by half in order to enhance social distancing."

During the in-person learning days, students will be in classes from 8 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. before independent learning begins. Officials wrote that this will "avoid needing food service, which would cause supervision, space, clean-up and allergy concerns." Meals will still be provided to those in need, officials added.

If the plan is approved by the board of education, parents will be able to opt into or out of the in-person learning component of the plan. If the plan moves forward, parents will have until Aug. 3 to complete a form to opt out of in-person learning.

District 99 also shared some safety guidelines proposed in the plan for the 2020-21 school year. These include, according to the District 99 website:

• "Before boarding, students who ride the bus must wear their student ID as well as both a mask and a face shield. The student will present their “self-certification pass” to the bus driver, indicating they are fever-free and free of COVID-19 symptoms.
• Students who do not ride the bus will present their ID and “self-certification pass” at the entrance of the school. All entrances will be monitored.
• Students without the "self-certification pass" will be symptom checked before boarding the bus or entering the school; random symptom checks may be performed.
• Students may not enter the building earlier than 7:30 a.m.
• After entering the building, students will go directly to their first class and use the hand sanitizer before sitting down in their assigned space, which will be at least six feet apart from others.
• In addition to hand sanitizer, tissues will be available in every classroom.
• Students will not share any items (i.e., equipment, textbooks, paper, etc.) during class without them being sanitized first.
• As class is dismissed, students will spray an EPA-approved sanitizer on their desk and leave for their next class.
• During passing periods, students will proceed directly to their next class, wearing both a face mask and face shield. Stairwells will be marked as one-directional.
• Students will not have a locker, and will carry their possessions with them at all times.
• Students will enter their next class, wipe down the desk, and use hand sanitizer.
• If a student needs to use the restroom, they can do so during class time, not passing period, in order to minimize crowding. They must wear both a face shield and face mask.
• The process of sanitizing desks and hands will be repeated for each class period.
• No food will be consumed by students while in the building, unless there is a medical reason to do so.
• Water bottles are allowed, and may be refilled at the water stations. (Water spouts will be unavailable.)
• All students must leave the building by 12:20 p.m.
• Students will engage in Independent Learning in the afternoon, while their teachers conduct Remote Learning sessions for the other half of the class."

Under the proposed plan, the school district will return to full remote learning if new guidance is received from the Illinois Department of Public Health or DuPage County Health Department or if there are not enough adults to allow for in-person learning.

School is set to start on Aug. 17 with remote learning and in-person learning is set to start on Aug. 18.