Frankfort District 157-C Will Start Year With Remote Learning

FRANKFORT, IL — Frankfort District 157-C will now begin the school year with remote learning after an emergency board meeting on Saturday. At the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Maura Zinni said the new guidance from IDPH presents significant challenges to the district’s Return to Learn Plan, board documents state.

One part of the new guidance includes that any student or staff member with any potential symptom of the coronavirus, including a runny nose, remain home until they receive a negative test result or other diagnosis, with a doctor’s note. According to board documents, Zinni said she expects this will create challenges for student attendance and staffing.

There are several other guidelines schools must follow including keeping track of close contact, fit-tested N95 respirator masks for those providing evaluation of a sick child or cleaning an area where someone suspected of having the coronavirus was.

Board documents state that Frankfort Teachers’ Association President Kellie Aranowski said that, in light of the new IDPH guidelines, the union is in support of going fully remote to begin the school year and determining how the District could adhere to guidelines in the future.

“We are completely dedicated to students, whether that means meeting virtually or not,” she said. “We are there for them and will continue to provide the best education for them possible.”

According to board documents, students would keep their original teacher assignments and schedules. Students will attend for a minimum of five hours each day with live teaching and independent work.

Board documents state that six of seven board members agreed with moving to fully remote learning given the new IDPH guidelines, and six of seven Board members agreed with continuing to provide in-person outdoor athletics at Hickory Creek Middle School.