Physical Health & Safety

Face Coverings/Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Q. What type of face coverings will be required?

According to ISBE’s Part 3 Transition guidance, “ Ensure that the face covering fully covers the mouth and nose, and that the covering fits snugly against the sides of the face with no gaps.” The State of Illinois will provide one mask per student. Parents are free to have children wear their own face covering as long as they meet the guidance from ISBE and IDPH.

Q. Will students be required to wear face coverings?

Yes. Phase 4, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidelines require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including face coverings. All persons on school grounds including students, teachers, school nurses, administrative and secretarial staff, food service personnel, custodial staff, public safety personnel, etc., must wear a face covering at all times when in school or in transit to and from school via group conveyance (i.e., school buses), unless a specific exemption applies.

Q. Will District 45 be enforcing face coverings to be worn at all times?

Yes. The face covering is a requirement - not merely guidance that is handed down from the state. As it stands now, there could be serious consequences for our schools should we choose not to enforce the face covering policy. The district will update policies to require wearing a face covering while on school grounds and handle violations in the same manner as other policy violations.

Q. My child has a medical condition that would prevent them from wearing a face covering all day. Can he or she be excused from the face covering requirement?

Phase 4, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidelines: Individuals who have a condition or medical contraindication (e.g., difficulty breathing) that prevents them from wearing a face covering are required to provide documentation from the individual’s healthcare provider. These persons may wear a face shield in lieu of a face covering; however social distancing must be strictly enforced. Measures to reduce risk of exposure for these persons should be implemented where possible. The District will require physicians notes and authorization for exchange of medical information for students and staff who are not able to wear a face covering.

Q. Younger children may have a difficult time keeping face coverings on. How will this be addressed?

We will address this by creating a culture of safety and awareness in our schools. We fully understand that children and adults may need some time to adjust to wearing a face covering during the school day. We will work with students on an individual level to help them stay safe. Our community can help students adjust to face coverings as well. Parents can talk positively to their children about the need to wear a face covering in school to help keep people safe and healthy. They can practice wearing face coverings for increasing amounts of time during the remainder of summer break to prepare students for wearing face coverings at school.

Q. When will face coverings NOT be required to be worn at school? When there is a vaccine?

Yes – face coverings may be temporarily removed at school:

• When eating

• When outdoors and physical distancing of at least 6 feet can be maintained.

• When playing a musical instrument outdoors with at least 6 feet social distancing.

• If using a face shield when other methods of protection are not available or appropriate.

• While children are napping with close monitoring to ensure no child leaves their designated napping area without putting their face covering back on.

• For staff, when alone in classrooms or offices with the door closed Strict adherence to social distancing should be maintained when face coverings are removed in limited situations.

Q. Will our students be required to keep face coverings on the entire time they are in school?

Every effort will be made to provide safe, brief, outdoor face covering breaks for students.

Q. Will District 45 provide face coverings for teachers and students? What if a student forgets to bring a face covering?

District 45 will be providing a washable face covering for teachers. The State of Illinois will also be providing a washable face covering for each student. Disposable face coverings will be available for students or staff who may forget their face covering.

Symptom Screenings

Q. How will the school handle taking temperatures daily and monitoring students' health to avoid a potential COVID-19 case? What about students who ride the bus?

Students, staff, and visitors will be required to have their temperature taken upon entry to the building. Parents/guardians will be required to self-certify a temperature and symptom check of their child before placing him/her on the bus each morning.

Q. Will students need to take a COVID-19 test every time they exhibit one or more symptoms?

The family will be contacted by the District nurse to discuss specifics related to the child's symptoms and will work with the DCHD and CDC to determine next steps.

Q. Will schools be offering COVID-19 testing?

No. We will not be testing students for COVID-19. At this time, COVID-19 testing should be conducted at a licensed medical facility.

Q. Should children be kept home if they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19?

Children exhibiting any symptoms related to COVID-19 should remain at home. If your child has seasonal allergies or something that could mimic any of the symptoms of COVID-19, we ask that you reach out to the school directly with that information.

Q. What if a parent sends their child to school with a fever? How would you know?

Temperatures will be checked upon arrival to school each day. If a student arrives at school or develops a fever at school the student will be separated and evaluated by the Health Office. The school will contact parents immediately and have the parents pick up the child.

Q. If a student has year-round allergies and sneezes frequently, will that be problematic?

No. Documentation of other health conditions will be taken into account when assessing student symptoms. Even so, families may choose to take into account other health concerns that could otherwise cause frequent absences when selecting the best learning plan for their children.

Social Distancing

Q. Will there be markings for distancing on the sidewalks around the building and/or in classrooms and hallways?

The need and format for markings inside and outside of buildings will be made based on the specific needs of individual buildings and classrooms.

Q. How will arrival and dismissal be managed considering social distancing requirements?

Arrival and dismissal procedures will be designed to maximize social distancing within each building.

Q. What procedures will be used for arrival, dismissal, restroom breaks, class changes, face covering breaks, etc.?

These specific procedures will be developed at the building level and will align with District guidelines regarding social distancing.

Q. Where will students put their belongings?

This will be determined at the building level with the intent to limit high-touch areas.

Q. Will we have students going to different rooms or will adults rotate in and out as needed?

Student movement between rooms and throughout the building will be minimized.

Q. What does 50 people in a gathering place mean? Is it per classroom or per school?

The state guideline of 50 people in a space for schools does not mean the entire school is limited to 50 people. It means that no more than 50 people can be present in any one space in the school, such as a classroom, lunchroom, gym, etc.

Safety/Disinfecting/Sanitizing

Q. Will there be hand sanitizers in each room?

Yes

Q. How often will cleaning/disinfecting occur?

High-touch surfaces in classrooms will be cleaned regularly throughout the day, between the AM/PM sessions, and at the end of the day. Bathrooms, hallways, cafeterias, gyms, and entryways will be cleaned on an hourly basis or as used/needed and between AM/PM classes. Buses will be cleaned by the transportation company between the arrival of new cohorts.

Q. Will students share supplies?

Students will not share supplies or manipulatives.

Q. Will students be permitted to have water bottles at school?

Students are able to bring individual water bottles from home. Bottle-refilling stations will be available, but water fountains will not be available.

Q. Will frequent hand-washing be mandated?

Students and staff will have frequent opportunities to use hand sanitizer or to wash their hands with soap and water.

Response to Suspected/Reported Cases

Q. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, what is the protocol? Do all need to quarantine?

Individuals testing positive for COVID-19 must be quarantined for the amount of days recommended by the IDPH and the DCHD. Quarantine measures for others are dependent upon many factors. Please see the following guidance (IDPH Decision Tree).

Q. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, will their class switch to remote learning?

In addition to reviewing the CDC and DCHD guidance, administration will assess the unique circumstances of the situation and will determine if remote learning is appropriate. We will communicate any changes as they are determined.

Q. What are the protocols for when a family member of a student tests positive for COVID-19?

The student will be quarantined and may return after 10/14-days from the date of last contact (depending on the circumstances) with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. Please see the following guidance (IDPH Decision Tree).

Q. If a family member tests positive, will families be required to share that information with the school?

In order to work collaboratively to ensure the safety of all stakeholders in our District 45 community, we ask that you let us know if your child has had close contact with a family member or friend who is either exhibiting symptoms of or has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Examples include siblings, parents, grandparents, other relatives, babysitters, etc. whether they reside in your home or not.

Q. How will parents and staff be notified of a COVID-19 positive student?

While ensuring individual privacy to the extent required, the school health office will inform parents and staff of the steps we are taking to address the situation.

Q. If there is an outbreak of COVID-19, at what point will the schools shut down again?

In addition to reviewing the CDC and DCHD guidance, the administration will assess the unique circumstances of the situation and will determine if shutting down a particular building or the District is appropriate. We will communicate any changes as they are decided.

Q. What would be a parent's right to keep a child from going to school if we know there is a COVID-19 positive person there?

Any individual with a confirmed case COVID-19 will not be allowed in school until the complete resolution of the virus. We will work with families on a case by case basis about their concerns regarding coming to school and whether a remote learning option is appropriate.

Q. What happens if a teacher tests positive for COVID-19? Will there be substitutes?

Substitute teachers will be available, and the District is pursuing the addition of permanent substitute teachers.

School/Classroom Procedures

Q. How will children be able to social distance in the classroom?

The ISBE guidance for schools is to social distance as much as possible. With the blended learning model, class size will be reduced. We will also be removing furniture that is not critical to instruction and spreading out students desks in each classroom.

Q. Will the students need to remain at their desks during their entire time in the classroom?

To ensure social distancing and contract tracing students will be in their desks the majority of the time. Students will have opportunities for various movement breaks in and outside their classroom, while still ensuring social distance.

Q. What does close contact mean?

Close contact means being within 6 feet or less for more than 15 minutes (cumulative daily) with a person who has been confirmed with COVID-19 (even if you are wearing a face covering).

Q. Will schools allow visitors into the building?

Only visitors with an essential purpose will be admitted to the building. Visitors will be admitted with administrative approval and by appointment only. Anyone who must be on school grounds for an essential purpose is required to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing. Only one visitor will be allowed in the main office at any given time. Each building will have markings in the lobbies for appropriate social distancing. School buildings are limited to students and essential personnel only during the remainder of Phase 4. If you have an essential item to be picked-up or delivered, a staff member will meet you at the door to assist you.

Q. How will planned school events occur?

Per the ISBE guidance, we intend to conduct any planned events virtually.

Q. How will younger students be treated if they accidentally violate social distancing by sharing, talking too close, etc?

Through all these requirements, we know children will still be children. We will create a culture of safety with our students and use positive redirection for all of our students to be as safe as possible. Through these new requirements for students, we will evaluate each situation through educating our students.

Q. How will the school protect students’ emotional and social well-being?

This has been a trying time for students as well as adults and the social and emotional well being of our students is vitally important. The District employs social workers, psychologists, and other support personnel that will work with staff to monitor students' well-being. Additionally, we will be working with our community mental health partners to provide assistance to our students, staff, and community. We will be providing additional services remotely and in-person.

Q. What additional resources are in place to help students, families, and teachers address the added stress and anxiety caused by the current situation?

District social workers, school psychologists and guidance counselors have met throughout the summer to plan and gather resources to support students, staff and families. They will mobilize with administrators in early August to plan for tiered supports within each school. The PBIS teams in each school will develop activities to help students transition back into school and learn the new protocols for face coverings and social distancing. Individual needs assessments will be completed with each student upon the return to school in order to determine where we can provide school-wide, grade level, small group or individual supports. Additional community mental health partners are being contracted to provide support to students, teachers and families as determined through the individual needs assessments that will be completed with all students upon return to school.

Return to Learning Plan

General Questions

Q. How will high-risk students with pre-existing conditions or immunocompromised students be taken care of?

Full-Remote Learning is available to all students and will be provided as an alternative to returning to school. If your child has a pre-existing condition or any other issue that would put them at higher risk, we recommend that you consult with your child’s pediatrician about returning to school for in-person learning. The District will provide accommodations to students based on their doctor’s recommendations.

Q. Will a remote option be given to families who have an immunocompromised family member?

Yes. Families may choose Full-Remote Learning and commit to that model for a semester.

Q. Can I have the option to teach my child at home 100% with resources from the school provided?

Yes. Families who wish to enroll in District 45 and engage in a self-paced remote learning option will receive resources from the District and will be assigned a District 45 teacher. Families interested in this self-paced option should email remotelearning@d45.org. Calvert Learning is the elementary school resource and Edmentum is the middle school resource for self-paced learners.

Q. Will a remote option be given to anyone who may request it?

Yes. We will offer a full-remote learning option to families who choose not to attend in-person or who are medically unable to do so.

Q. Can I change my mind between full-remote learning and in-person learning after the school year begins?

Families choosing to stay in full-remote learning if the District shifts to in-person instruction will commit to that program for a semester. The District will work with families who need to transition from in-person to full-time remote.

Q. What is the plan to catch up on the lost achievement over the last few months?

Student needs will be assessed and addressed. Addressing learning loss or gaps in curriculum coverage is important. ISBE has issued guidance to districts to assess curriculum gaps and focus on a strong review of skills when returning to school. The District will also consider summer programming that falls within the health and safety guidelines.

Q. If full-remote learning becomes necessary for everyone, will students practice previous skills or learn new material?

Students will continue to learn new material.

Q. How often will District 45 reassess the chosen models?

Families choosing full-time remote learning must commit to the remainder of the current semester. Requests to return to in-person learning will depend on space availability. The District is also prepared to resume Full-Remote learning for all students should Illinois return to Phase 3 in the Restore Illinois plan.

Q. Will there be a common Learning Management System, or digital home base, for students?

Yes. Students in Early Childhood-Grade 2, along with some special education programs, will use Seesaw. Students in Grade 3- 8 will use Google Classroom.

Q. How can I learn more about Seesaw or Google Classroom in order to help my child at home?

Parents may view recorded Parent Information Night sessions for both Seesaw and Google Classroom.

Q. Are there any changes regarding immunizations for this year, either for students participating in the AM/PM Blended or the Full-Remote plans?

There are no changes to grade level immunization requirements for this year. All students must meet immunization requirements, including students participating in the AM/PM Blended model and students participating in the Full-Time Remote Learning model.

AM/PM Blended

Q. Can parents choose between AM or PM?

Unfortunately, no. AM and PM assignments will be made based on a variety of factors including but not limited to student programming, transportation, and siblings.

Q. Will elementary and middle school in-person attendance times be coordinated for families?

Every effort will be made to maintain a common schedule for siblings in terms of AM/PM placement.

Q. If my child normally attends in-person learning but is just home with a cold or stomach bug, will remote learning be offered?

No. Any routine illness that keeps your child out of school will be treated the same as sick days would have otherwise been treated in the past.

Q. How much time will be devoted to remote learning for students who opt for the AM/PM Blended option?

Students will spend approximately half of their ISBE-required 5 hour instructional day at school and the other half will be remote learning.

Full-Time Remote Learning

Q. What will it look like for working parents who are only able to do Full-Remote Learning in evening hours?

Families who are not able to access synchronous instruction during the school day should email remotelearning@d45.org to inquire about the self-paced model.

Q. Will remote learning be graded?

Yes. Remote learning will be graded similarly to in-person grading.

Q. What is a third-party platform that would be used as an aspect of remote learning?

While many apps and digital resources are used for both in-person and remote learning, a full third-party platform is primarily used for the self-paced learning option.

For self-paced learners, Kindergarten through fifth grade students will be using Calvert Learning. Your child will move through Calvert with coursework. Your child will also be assigned to a District 45 certified teacher who will monitor student progress and needs for support. As a parent, you will have the ability to see exactly what the teacher will see so you can help support your child through the program.

Calvert Overview Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCFOtUL79aY&feature=youtu.be

Sixth through eighth grade students will be using Edmentum Courseware. Your child will move through Edmentum with coursework. Your child will also be assigned to a District 45 certified teacher who will monitor student progress and needs for support. You will also have access to the Edmentum parent portal where you can monitor your child’s progress

Edmentum Courseware Overview Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7xPfDRha5E

Q. Will students who choose the full-remote option have a District 45 teacher?

Yes. All students will have a District 45 teacher. Please note that the self-paced program has limited teacher interaction.

Special Education, Accelerated Programming, and Other Courses

Q. How will specials and PE be taught remotely at the elementary level, both for AM/PM Blended students and Full-Time Remote students?

Special areas will be taught remotely. Additional details will be available following enrollment selections and final staffing information.

Q. Will students participate in the Language-arts Accelerated Enrichment Program (LEAP)?

Returning students to the elementary will receive instruction remotely for LEAP.

Q. Will accelerated programming be offered at the middle school level?

Pre-algebra and algebra will be offered at the middle school level. The District is currently working to reestablish an accelerated ELA pathway that would be available in both remote and in-person learning and meet the health and safety guidelines of in-person learning. Introductory Physical Science will not be offered at the middle school level in order to prioritize student grouping sizes.

Q. Will Transitional Bilingual Education and ESL services be offered in both models?

Yes. Additional details will be communicated prior to the start of school.

Q. How will IEP requirements get fulfilled?

This question has a different answer for every student with an IEP, as each child’s circumstances and needs are unique. Teams will work with parents to revise IEPs and create Remote Learning plans. We will provide interventions and services through a combination of in-person support, digital resources that can be accessed at home, and remote synchronous options when possible.

Q. How will it work with students who have push-in minutes on IEPs?

We will attempt to group students in a way that allows service providers to push-in and provide some support during in-person learning. The remaining supports will be provided during the Remote Learning portion of the day through a combination of asynchronous activities, digital resources that can be accessed at home, and remote synchronous options when possible.

Q. Will IEP meetings continue like the spring where they are done virtually?

We will continue to offer parents remote meetings as the preferred choice of the District in order to minimize additional people coming and going from the building. However, we will accommodate parents who prefer an in-person meeting. We discourage parents from bringing younger siblings with them to any in-person meetings.

Q. Will staff be able to conduct evaluations and qualify students for special education services?

Yes. We will still be required to conduct child find activities. We will conduct evaluations through both in person and virtual assessments.

Q. What if the student isn't available to attend remote intervention due to child care issues? Will their intervention be through digital resources similar to spring?

We will provide interventions through a combination of digital resources that can be accessed at home, and remote asynchronous and synchronous options when possible.

Q. How will the self-contained special education programs be handled?

Students in self-contained special education classrooms including cross-categorical, STARS, and the Emotional Disabilities program (Middle School only) will follow the same blended plan as the school that their program is located in. Students selecting the AM/PM Blended model will be divided into two cohorts and they will attend school in person either am or pm and will receive remote learning for the opposite portion of their day. This will allow for additional support and social distancing within these settings. Students in the Multi-Needs program will attend school for a portion of their week and will receive remote learning for the remainder of that time. The blended plans will be created on a student by student basis for this program. Students in Early Childhood special education classrooms who are already divided into morning and afternoon sessions will be further divided into cohorts that will attend school two days each week. Parents will continue to have the option to choose full remote learning for students in these programs.

Q. Will students from self-contained programs be going into general education classrooms for inclusion time?

Inclusion time may be limited somewhat by the need to keep students in contained cohorts. If a student is being included for literacy or math instruction at the elementary level, we will work to continue to provide that time with a general education cohort. The same will be true for students who are typically included in other settings for a portion of their day at the middle school level. This will be a student by student decision made with both safety considerations and appropriate programming in mind.

Transportation

Q. How many students can be on a bus?

ISBE and IDPH guidance is that no more than 50 students can be on a bus at any given time.

Q. Will social distancing be maintained on the bus?

Yes, to the extent possible.

Q. Will the windows on the bus be opened to increase ventilation?

Yes. Weather permitting, we will open bus windows to increase ventilation.

Q. Will face coverings be required to be worn on the bus?

Yes. Face coverings are required to be worn on the bus.

Q. Will students who take the bus be health screened before they get on the bus?

Parents will self-certify the health screening before students board the bus.

Q. Will hand sanitizer be available on the bus?

Yes

Q. How often will the bus be cleaned and sanitized?

Buses will be cleaned and disinfected before and after each route and between AM and PM sessions

Activities & Extracurriculars

Q. Will extracurricular activities or sports be allowed?

Currently, extracurricular activities and sports will not take place unless they can be conducted entirely remotely. Clubs and groups may also meet remotely.

Q. Will band/orchestra/choir be offered this year?

Band/orchestra/choir are tentatively planned to be offered remotely, with continued exploration of research-based best practice and safety considerations.

Q. Will large events or gatherings be permitted in person?

For the safety of students, staff, and families, large gatherings are not permitted on school grounds. This includes, but is not limited to, assemblies, field trips, large in-person parent and student events, PTA events, curriculum night, and parent/teacher conferences.