Northbrook D27 School Plan Includes In-Person, Remote Options

NORTHBROOK, IL — When students return to school on Aug. 20, things will look a bit different in Northbrook School District 27. Following question and answer sessions with parents and advisory committee meetings over the course of a few weeks, Superintendent Dr. David J. Kroeze announced a plan that combines in-person and remote learning depending on grade level and individual student needs.

"We based our plan on adherence to the most recent public health information from the Illinois
Department of Public Health, the Center for Disease Control, and on the guidance of the Illinois State Board of Education," Kroeze said in a letter to parents. "The plan is subjected to change as new guidance from these organizations is provided to best support the health and safety of our students and staff."

Northbrook School District 27 consists of:

• Hickory Point (Grades K-2)
• Shabonee (Grades 3-5)
• Wood Oaks Junior High School (Grades 6-8)

Here is a breakdown of options based on grade level:

Option 1: Full day in-person instruction for kindergarten and first grade and a rotating schedule for grades 2-8.

Kindergarten and first grade students will attend school in person full time, five days a week, due to the creation of a new kindergarten campus to be housed at the Leisure Center on Walters Avenue. This new location is available due to a partnership with the Northbrook Park District and will allow kindergarteners to attend daily, as well as to increase physical distancing space available at Hickory Point, according to Kroeze.

First grade students will attend at Hickory Point, and they will be divided into two classrooms with a teacher and an instructional assistant. The teacher will teach in-person to half the class and remotely to the other half of the class with the assistant. The teacher will move between the two rooms during the day so that all students are in-person with their teacher for about half the day. The teacher will use technology to direct the learning in both classrooms.

For grades 2-8, the school year will begin on an A/B rotation. Students in these grades will attend school in person 2-3 days a week and remotely 2-3 days a week, depending on their individual schedules. While off campus, students will join remotely the class operating onsite at school. The remote students will receive live instruction occurring simultaneously with the students physically in school.

Option 2: Full remote learning

Kroeze acknowledged in-person instruction may not be an option for some of our students with elevated health risks or for those students whose family members have elevated health risks. Families who do not feel comfortable with their children attending school in person are not required to do so. Their children will be able to attend the live classes synchronously.

"We are excited to welcome our students back to school. We will take every measure to mitigate risk and to protect students and staff as we navigate this new reality," Kroeze said. "We will continue to monitor regularly the guidance and the environment in order to make adjustments as appropriate.