Mokena District 159 Will Start Year With Remote Learning

MOKENA, IL — Mokena District 159 will begin the school year with full remote learning. According to a letter to the community from Superintendent Mark Cohen, due the most recent set of guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health, in-person instruction can't resume.

The new guidance includes information on coronavirus symptoms and what response the district should have, the amount of time a student with symptoms would be out of school and more.

"The directive to handle just one symptom of COVID-19 as a potential case is difficult to manage as a school and burdensome to families," Cohen wrote in his letter to families. "If we are to follow this guidance with fidelity, a student or staff member with a migraine or other headache, congestion, common cold, etc. may end up being absent for an extended period of time. Waiting for a doctor’s appointment or COVID test results could have tremendous student attendance and staffing implications, while disrupting the work schedules of our parents."

Cohen said it has always been the goal to return to in-person learning this fall, and classrooms were socially distanced, signage was going up, PPE was ready, and hand sanitizer and cleaners were distributed.

"Unfortunately, the latest guidance makes returning to our classrooms impractical. Within days of reopening we would anticipate having absences of students and staff that would significantly impact learning," he wrote.

The start of the school year for District 159 students will be postponed for one week. Teachers will report for institute days on Aug. 24, and that week will be used for planning and supply distribution. The first day of remote learning will be Aug. 31.