D225 Students Return To In-Person Learning Oct. 5

GLENVIEW, IL — At a special meeting Monday night, the Glenbrook High Schools District 225 Board of Education approved the implementation of a two-week phased-in approach to a hybrid model beginning Oct. 5. The district has been operating on a full remote learning plan since the 2020-21 school year started last month.

"We are excited to welcome back our entire student population and have been working each day since the start of the pandemic to plan for this opportunity to reunite on our campuses," Superintendent Dr. Charles Johns said. “There are still many challenges we can expect to encounter; however, we believe that beginning the year remotely provided a strong foundation to move into hybrid learning.”

The move is Step 3 of the district's Fall Learning plan. The approach is expected to phase in students by grade level and will reach full implementation for all students by Oct. 20.

The decision came after a nearly four-hour meeting that included board members listening to voicemail messages from parents across the district. Nearly all the calls during that portion of the meeting, which occurred at the beginning, spoke in favor of the district continuing its full remote learning plan.

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According to the district, the board reviewed various health metrics in order to determine moving from Step 2 to Step 3, including the number of new cases per 100,000, test positivity rates, increased number of cases, and specifically youth cases. In addition, the Board considered operational metrics including sufficient access/inventory of personal protective equipment, the ability to maintain 6 foot social distancing in learning spaces, and necessary personnel.

The district said it will comply with public health guidelines including requiring students and staff to wear face masks, maintain social distancing standards and participate in daily health screenings, for example, as it moves into a return to in-person learning.

"It is our responsibility to provide the best experience for our students, and we know that means a return to in-person instruction as soon possible," Board President Bruce Doughty said. "After careful thought and consideration for the safety of our students and staff, along with balancing the academic and social/emotional needs of our school community, we strongly believe that forward movement is the best course of action."

In the coming week, additional information about the implementation of hybrid learning will be emailed directly to students and parents, according to the district. In addition, should a family determine that their student would benefit from remaining in an E-Learning environment, the school will accommodate this preference.

For more information, visit the district webpage dedicated to the reopening of school, which includes the current Learning and Operations Plan and outlines the different phases of reopening.

Related:
Parents Demand Reopening Schools For In-Person Studies In D225
School Begins With Synchronous E-Learning In August: District 225