Summit Hill D161 To Begin School Year With Remote Learning

MOKENA, IL — Summit Hill School District 161 will begin its 2021-21 school year with remote learning. At its July 15 board of education meeting, the district said the board voted unanimously to move forward with all students learning remotely to begin the school year.

"The board left open the possibility of a gradual return to in-person learning during the school year should conditions improve," Superintendent Barb Rains said in a recent letter to the community.

According to the district, guidelines and expectations will be more comprehensive than they were in the spring of 2020. Material pick-up days for textbooks, workbooks, tablets and chargers will be held in late August.

"As expected, feedback from our parents has been mixed – some praising the decision to begin as remote learners and others not, citing, among other things, the social/emotional and educational impact on students," Rains said in a letter to parents and staff. "We have a direction that allows us to prioritize our planning efforts. We believe our students can excel; this goes for any type of learning environment."

Rains said the district will continually reevaluate the situation. The district anticipates moving to in-person learning once medical guidance becomes more explicit and protocols are proven effective, she said.