Here's What Hinsdale D-86 Plans for Fall

HINSDALE, IL — Hinsdale High School District 86 has decided to go with a mixture of in-person and remote learning for the fall semester, as most high schools are doing. Presented at Thursday's school board meeting, the district's plan was recommended by a committee of more than 30 members, which included top officials.

The district plans to divide students into groups A and B, with Group A attending Monday and Thursday and Group B Tuesday and Friday. Wednesday will be a remote learning day. Under the plan, parents can choose online learning for their students.

Each period is scheduled for 38 minutes, with 5 minutes between classes. The biggest change is that students will not have lunch, but are expected to get grab-and-go lunches at the end of the day. Students would be barred from eating lunch in school or on the bus, officials said.

The groups have not been selected yet, but the district said it would keep siblings together.

Officials said students expressed a "general anxiety" about social distancing during lunch. And they said it would be particularly tough to hold lunch and stay within health guidelines because each lunch period would include hundreds of students.

The district said the "ultimate goal" is to return to 100 percent in-person instruction. But officials said it is not possible now because of guidelines issued by state and local health agencies. Such rules limit groups to 50 people.

The school board heard varied opinions from the public about the district's plan. One woman said returning to in-person learning was a "disaster waiting to happen." Others pushed for more in-person lessons. At least one said the decisions on how to proceed were not easy.

The first day of school is Aug. 17.