On Monday, October 19, DuPage County moved into red status (indicating substantial community spread) on the county’s return-to-school metrics, due to a significant increase in the number of cases per 100,000 residents. The latest DuPage County data showed increases in all four metrics. You can view the data here: www.ccsd89.org/Page/8934
There are indications that DuPage County may remain in red/substantial-spread status when the next metrics are released on Monday, October 26.
The district's buildings will continue to remain open for in-person learning on Monday, October 26. Elementary and middle-school students who are in-person learners can continue to come to the buildings on the same schedules they have been using. Families can expect in-person learning will continue past Monday, unless otherwise notified.
Decisions related to in-person learning are done in consultation with the DuPage County Health Department, and following Illinois Department of Public Health and CDC guidance. In addition to DuPage County health metrics, the district monitors cases in
Glen Ellyn, Lombard, and Wheaton. Additionally, the
district reviews cases in CCSD 89 schools, and absences among students and staff. The district will continue to enforce wearing masks, social distancing, and frequent hand washing.
The district has been in close contact with officials at the DuPage County Health Department, who expressed confidence that the mitigation strategies the district has put in place (social distancing, masks, hand washing, contact tracing) can reduce the chance of spread within a school.
This week, the governor has instituted tighter restrictions on indoor dining in DuPage County. Although the governor's new dining requirements do not apply to schools, the district has reviewed them. The middle school can continue to have lunch at school because students will remain six feet apart while eating and they are not sitting at a table together.
Although the district will have in-person learning on Monday, there are concerning trends in DuPage County that the district continues to monitor. If there needs to be a change to remote learning, the district will notify families as soon as possible via email and notices on the district's website.
We ask that families take all possible steps to limit community spread so schools can remain open. Please follow the Illinois Department of Health prevention recommendations.
Unfortunately, this will probably not be the last time the district has to make decisions about whether to move to full remote learning. The district strives to always communicate the latest information we have, and follow the guidance of experts in the community health field.
When in-person learning is available, guardians always make the final decision on the best fit for their family. If you need to make a change based on current health conditions, please contact your school’s principal.
