D124 Students' Family Member Tests Positive for Covid-19

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — An extended family member of two Southwest Elementary School students in Evergreen Park has tested positive for coronavirus, Dist. 124 announced Sunday afternoon. The family member is currently being treated at Advocate Christ Medical Center. A school district official said the Southwest principal was notified on Sunday by the students’ family that the family member tested positive for COVID-19.

The district official was prohibited from releasing any additional information about the family member’s age or gender, citing confidentiality and legal reasons.

Dist. 124 Supt. Dr. Robert Machak said in an email to parents that the family member, on occasion, would drop the children off at Southeast Elementary School, where the children participated in a program as part of a carpool. Later in the day, the children would return to Southwest Elementary School to participate in regular classes.

Machak was prohibited from releasing any additional information concerning age or gender, citing confidentiality. The last time the family member dropped the children at Southeast was March 4.

“The students participate in a program at Southeast first thing in the morning,” Machak told parents. “[The two students] are feeling fine and not exhibiting any symptoms. To err on the side of caution, the family has imposed a self quarantine and will keep Southwest principal [Patricia] Bogdan posted if the children develop any symptoms.”

Guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require that communities be notified of patients who test positive for COVID-19 to be notified. Parents and students may take whatever precautionary measures necessary. Machak also advised parents to monitor their children and other family members should they develop flu-like symptoms.

A Northwest Elementary School employee also notified the district that teacher at their child’s school out of district has tested positive for COVID-19.

“From a confidentiality standpoint, I cannot share more information about either of these two situations,” Machak said. “I will be working with both Mrs. Bogdan, and Northwest principal Dr. [Matthew] Banach, to monitor each of these situations very closely.”

Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker closed all public and private schools in Illinois through March 30, to slow the community spread of coronavirus. Evergreen Park ESD 124 students had March 16 and March 17 off this coming week. The school district will implement e-learning starting this Wednesday, March 18.

Parents who need devices may pick up tablets and Google Chromebooks, as well as paper copies of students’ e-learning lesson plans from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 16 at the D124 Administration building, 2929 W. 87th St., Evergreen Park.
The district will continue to provide updates regarding the ever evolving coronavirus situation. A Frequently Asked Questions link on the D124 website that will give community members the opportunity to ask questions, and have their questions answered.