Troy Changes Plans: School District Moves To Remote Learning

JOLIET, IL — Thousands of students in the Troy Community School District were expecting to go back to regular classes starting Aug. 27, but that is not going to happen. On Wednesday night, the Troy school board reversed course. The board agreed to begin the school year with all remote learning. Troy School Superintendent Todd Koehl sent an email to parents on Wednesday night, following the board's decision.

"Dear Troy Students, Staff and Families," Koehl's letter begins. "This is the note I have not wanted to write since May. I do not want to mince words. We will be starting school in full remote. The August 12 guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health placed demands on contract tracing, quarantine, and close contact that makes it inconceivable that we could provide uninterrupted education for our in person students."

Students in the Troy district come from portions of Joliet, Shorewood, Channahon, Crest Hill, and unincorporated Troy Township.

Here are some highlights contained within Koehl's lengthy email to parents:

• School will start on Thursday, August 27.
• We know this is now a quick turnaround for our in person families. We will have information out tomorrow on material and device pick up. We will have teacher assignments out as soon as possible. We have to recognize that it is a quick turnaround for many of them as well.
• We are sorry. We are disappointed. We know we have just turned our in person families and staff upside down. We tried, but in the end, pushing this stone up the hill was more absurd than not doing it. More important, pushing this stone up the hill may have caused irreparable damage that we would eternally regret. We erred on the side of safety. As far as we can see, this is the only side to be on today.
• This is not the end - just a point in the journey. We will be in person, just not today. We will continue to evaluate the opportunity for a sustained movement toward full in person.
• I do not mean to patronize here. I am serious. Be calm. Stay healthy. Breathe. We will prevail, and we have to work together to do so.

Koehl's email Wednesday night also contained the following information:

"I have also provided a more indepth memo that provides a detailed look at some of the deepest restrictions from the IDPH guidelines as well as the troublesome environment of COVID cases in Will County. These two issues derail our attempt to start in person."