All D-205 Students Back In School By Oct. 5: Official

ELMHURST, IL — All Elmhurst public school students are expected to return to at least some in-person learning by Oct. 5, the superintendent announced Thursday night. They are set to begin a mix of in-person and remote lessons. Since school started Aug. 24, classes have been entirely remote.

Here's when students are returning, as revealed by Superintendent Dave Moyer in a mass email to parents:

• Kindergarteners and small groups of students started Tuesday.
• This coming Monday: elementary students, multi-needs students at York High and students with individualized educational plans from sixth through 12th grades.
• Sept. 21: sixth and ninth grade general education students.
• Sept. 28: seventh and 10th grade general education students.
• Oct. 5: eighth, 11th and 12th grade general education students.

"As always, these plans are contingent on the district's ability to staff our buildings appropriately and are provided to you with the current assumption that DuPage County will remain in the Moderate Risk category for transmission of the COVID-19 virus," Moyer said in the email.

Meanwhile, he said, the district plans to create an online dashboard to track information such as number of staff and students quarantined or those symptomatic or positive with the virus.

This dashboard would be an increase in the district's openness. Last week, reports surfaced in town that the coronavirus had spread among employees in York High's multi-needs classrooms, even before the arrival of students. A day later, the district revealed "several" employees were in quarantine or self-isolation because they had become exposed to the virus. No specific numbers were given about positive cases and those in quarantine.

"It is important for the district to lead the school community in an honest conversation about health and safety if we are to successfully return to in-person learning," Moyer said.

The district had originally planned to start in-person learning when school began Aug. 24, but delayed it, saying the district did not have adequate staff because many were seeking leaves.

The teachers union, the Elmhurst Teachers Council, has been publicly silent since Aug. 12, when it issued a public statement backing the school's plan to delay in-person learning. Before that, the union vocally opposed students returning to the classroom, regularly issuing Facebook posts critical of the reopening plan.

The district has more than 8,000 students and about 600 teachers.

Here are some of the latest stories about reopening D-205:

Elmhurst D-205 Union Says School Reopening Plan Will Fail

D-205 Touts This Key Change For Remote Learning

D-205 Sticks To Schedule, But With Key Change

Enough Staff For Elmhurst D-205?

District 205 Sees Wave of Resignations

See Which Elmhurst Areas Backed In-Person Lessons Most

D-205 Gives No Clarity On In-Person Learning

D-205 Rejects Most Employees' Remote Requests

When Do D-205 Middle And High School Students Return?

Coronavirus Exposure At York High School: Official