D70 Opts For Remote Learning

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — Libertyville District 70 has joined a growing list of suburban school districts opting to start the school year with e-learning. The District 70 Board of Education voted 5-2 to start the district's school year on Aug. 24 with an "e-school," which will run through the end of the first trimester on Nov. 16.

The school district had originally considered letting families pick between in-person and remote learning, district officials said. But as administrators looked closer at its reopening plan, they became less confident that in-person learning was the safest choice and ran into staffing issues since some staff members could not work in schools due to pre-existing medical conditions, according to district officials.

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In addition, the district, after receiving guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Lake County Health Department, decided students and staff needing to self-isolate or quarantine in coming week could lead to "significant, lengthy and potentially multiple disruptions to the learning environment," according to the District 70 website.

Leading up to the first day of school, staff and teachers within the elementary school district will work to "create a robust e-school that will include live-learning" and that will "go above and beyond state standards," according to information posted on the District 70 website.

Meanwhile, district officials have not set a date on when exactly schools will reopen. Officials plan to continue to monitor and review the situation regarding new coronavirus cases as they decide when to move forward with in-person learning.