Coronavirus Cases Cause Loyola Academy To Move To Remote Learning

WILMETTE, IL — Loyola Academy administrators hope to return to in-person classes following Labor Day after the discovery of a half-dozen coronavirus cases among students and the possible exposure of dozens more led the school to switch to a fully remote schedule.

Students at Loyola began returning to campus on Aug. 13 for freshmen orientation. On-campus classes started Aug. 20. The school's original hybrid bell schedule included only one grade level in the school building per day through the first week of September, which would have been followed by two grade levels a day and then, eventually, all students would have been brought back on campus.

Principal Charlie Heintz warned in-person instruction would not be possible without a concerted collective effort. In a message sent to the school community on Aug. 22 — the Saturday after orientations and the first two days of classes — he said the off-campus behavior of students could significantly limit the school's ability to offer on-campus learning.

"[S]ome students are not following safe social gathering guidelines outside of school," Heintz said. "As a parent, I know that it is difficult to monitor the off-campus behavior of adolescents, however, I am making a plea to our students and their families to make responsible decisions outside of school."

Heintz said six students had tested positive for the coronavirus as of the end of the school day on the first Friday of the year. Another 63 of the school's approximately 2,000 had been quarantined because of exposure to the virus, recent travel or symptoms, he said.

The principal reminded families to notify the school nurse anytime they test positive and stay home while waiting for the results. Anyone exposed to a known case has a responsibility to self-quarantine, he said.

The next day, in a follow-up communication to parents, Heintz hinted that an even larger number of students had been exposed or infected. No information about the number of school staff who contracted or were exposed to the COVID-19 virus was available from a spokesperson.

"While none of the cases have been linked to in-person instruction, we now believe off-campus social exposures are greater than first reported," he said. "Therefore, based on this data and recommendations from our health experts, I believe it is in the best interest of our students, faculty and staff to suspend in-person classes for the next two weeks."

Heintz said in-person learning was still a priority for the school. But, he said, it cannot take place without the cooperation of the entire school community. As of Monday, administrators plan to resume the hybrid model Sept. 8, according to a spokesperson.

"This decision was not made lightly, and it is made with the health and safety of our entire school community in mind," the principal said. "The next two weeks will be an opportunity for us to demonstrate that we can increase our personal responsibility and minimize our exposure risks."