An IL-EMPOWER approved learning partner  
Dr. Darlene J. Ruscitti
Regional Superintendent
DuPage County Schools
March 17, 2020
*** S P E C I A L***E D I T I O N ***
TUESDAY TIMES
A bi-weekly source for professional development and news for DuPage County Educators
IF YOU ARE TAKING TIME TO READ THIS . . . thank you! We know and understand how busy and overwhelmed many of you are feeling.

Adjusting to our new reality is exhausting. And hard. And complex.

You are juggling the pressures of social distancing, educating, and caring for loved ones. Your email inbox is slammed with COVID-19 updates, questions, complaints, and suggestions. The future is unclear, and there are dozens of decisions that have to be made. The sheer amount of information being thrown at all of us--and the rate at which it is changing--is dizzying.

We want you to know that we see you.

We are thinking about you.

We are brainstorming ways to serve you and support you.

We don't have all the answers, but we will do our very best to tell you what we know, when we know it, and in a timely fashion.

Please be patient--with us and with yourselves. We are all learning together, and we'll get through this together. It won't be easy, but we can do it.
IMPORTANT NOTICES

Questions
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us at 630-407-5800. If we don't answer right away, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

Fingerprinting
We are still offering fingerprinting services, but ONLY as needed for immediate security verifications and by appointment. Call the number above for more information.

School Bus Driver Training
Please note that until further notice, all bus driver training through the DuPage Regional Office of Education has been cancelled, at least through April 1. When more information becomes available, later dates will be reevaluated. Per direction from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office in the following official statement: " Due to the COVID-19 virus and based on recommendations by health and safety experts, all Secretary of State Driver Services Facilities are closed to the public. Essential Secretary of State staff are working. All driver’s licenses, instruction permits, permits and identification cards that were set to expire on or after March 17, 2020 are being extended for a period of 30 days. This includes School Bus Permits. We recognize that it may be difficult to complete the annual refresher training during this period, so a grace period of 30 days will be allowed for completion of this training."
When we have more information, additional training will be scheduled. At this time, we are not setting new dates. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our offices. Direct email inquiries to Raquel Wadsworth,  rwadsworth@dupageroe.org .

INSPIRATION

Many in our community are celebrating St. Patrick's Day today. Typically the day is full of Leprechaun traps, shamrock shakes, and green clothing. This year looks a little different, but today I'm thinking about the rainbow that so often appears in St. Patrick's Day images.

It always feels so lucky when we spot a real rainbow in the sky. We take pictures on our camera phones. We call our family to say, "Look in the sky--there's a rainbow!"

But rainbows don't appear without there first being some rain. Storms. Clouds.

As we weather this storm called COVID-19, look for rainbows. Silver linings. If you're feeling anxious, jot down a few things you're thankful for--perhaps things you previously took for granted. Realize how blessed we are.

And remember that we are thankful for you. We probably don't say it enough, but we truly are. DuPage County educators are some of the most professional, creative, hard-working, and caring individuals in the country. Thank you for your commitment to our community and to our students. We appreciate you, now more than ever.
421 North County Farm Road Wheaton, IL 60187 P: 630.407.5800
Follow the DuPage Regional Office of Education on Twitter @DuPageROE / #DuPageROE