LTHS Committed To In-Person Learning: Official

LA GRANGE, IL — Lyons Township High School remains committed to offering in-person learning and activities, despite a recent increase in coronavirus cases, the superintendent said Wednesday.

In a public statement, Superintendent Brian Waterman said the school is in its fourth week of offering weekly coronavirus tests, which he said were recommended for unvaccinated students and those who show symptoms while at school.

More than 90 percent of staff and nearly 60 percent of students are vaccinated, according to the school. In his statement, Waterman encouraged everyone to get vaccinations and booster shots.

In the last week, the school reported 47 new coronavirus cases among students and six among staff, according to its online dashboard. The numbers were similarly high the previous week — 42 for students and six for staff. The first full week of the month saw 17 cases among students and five among staff.

For most of the first semester, the school has seen only a handful of new cases a week.

In the last few days, the University of Illinois and Illinois State University announced their campuses are going remote for the first two weeks of classes in January. At the same time, most public high schools have stayed with in-person learning.

If public schools decide to go remote — even for a few weeks — that is likely to spark local debates.