Glenview D34 To Start Remotely, Eyeing Sept. 29 For In-Person

GLENVIEW, IL — Wanting "nothing more" than to open buildings for in-person study, Glenview District 34 announced it will begin the 2020-2021 school year with full remote learning for its nearly 5,000 students. Administrators said they will reevaluate things as things progress, marking Sept. 29 as the earliest date they can consider classes moving to campuses.

The first day of school is scheduled for Aug. 24.

"The Board gave careful consideration to the options and did not take their decision lightly," the district said in a statement on its website.

According to District 34, the start in remote learning, or Remote+ as the plan is called, and enter in-person learning in phases came down to several factors:

• Safety. With COVID-19 cases on the rise in our region (Region 10 in IDPH’s tracking tool), along with the other logistical challenges the district faces, the best move for District 34 is to start the school year in Remote+/GOAL and lay out the plans and guideposts that give the district a careful path to in-person learning.
• Staffing. District 34 said it must have enough teachers, associates, nurses and health aides, building leaders, custodians, food service workers and bus drivers to ensure that students have a safe, consistent and positive learning environment.
• Substitutes. District 34 said its pool of substitute teachers must be large enough to handle the increased absences that the district is sure to face during COVID-19. The district will continue to promote the need for substitutes, and the fact that the District has increased the pay rate for subs, and will monitor its ability to cover absences from the district's sub pool.
• Space. The district intends to follow the guidance of health agencies and the scientific research that shows that distancing is important in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Glenview District 34 consists of Attea Middle School, Springman Middle School, Glen Grove School, Hoffman School, Pleasant Ridge School, Henking School, Lyon School and Westbrook School.