OLCHS Hosts Town Hall To Review Fall Mitigation Plan

OAK LAWN, IL — Oak Lawn Community High School, 9400 Southwest Highway, will its rescheduled town hall Monday, Aug. 9, to review the 2021 safety mitigation plan. The town hall will start at 6 p.m. in the high school’s Performing Arts Center. Participants will be able to attend either in person or remotely via this link. If you are planning to attend the meeting in person, face masks are required.

The high school is anticipating a full return to the school, which starts Aug. 18 for all grades. A flurry of revisions to CDC, IDPH, and Cook County Department of Public Health guidance for schools have required further modifications to Oak Lawn Community High School’s mitigation plan, Dist. 229 Supt. Dr. Mike Riordan said in an email to families.

>>> Back To School: Oak Lawn 2021-2022 School Calendars

The most significant change now requires OLCHHS students, faculty and staff to wear face coverings indoors, based on the CDC’s updated COVID-19 guidance for schools and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mask mandate for Illinois schools. Riordan stated in his email that recent community metrics have also shown a significant increase in virus spread.

“Therefore, effective immediately, all staff and students will be required to properly wear face coverings while indoors on campus.”

The mask requirement includes youth sports and activities, with masks now required for all indoor extracurriculars and sports. In line with CDC guidance, masks are not required for activities outdoors where transmission risks and rates are lower, Riordan explained.

The revised fall mitigation plan for OLCHS will be reviewed Monday evening.