November 12, 2020
PAUSE TO FULL REMOTE LEARNING PLAN
Dear Lyons Township High School Parents/Guardians and Families,

We appreciate the flexibility and patience demonstrated by our school community as we work to continue to engage students in learning while also striving to achieve our three primary goals during the COVID-19 pandemic:
  • Prioritize the health and safety of students and staff;
  • Support the social-emotional needs of students and basic wellness needs of families;
  • Maximize in-person learning when possible.

We are also appreciative of the work our staff, students, and parents have done in adhering to our health and safety protocols. Since October 19, when we implemented our 50% Hybrid/Remote Learning Model, we have closely followed information from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Cook County Health Department, and within our own school community. For more information regarding the metrics we monitor, please visit the LTHS COVID-19 Dashboard.  

The sharp increases in cases per day, positivity rates, and number of new cases per 100,000 within LT’s zip codes, and the impact this has caused on staffing our classrooms and cleaning our facilities is concerning. In addition, we are also extremely concerned with upcoming expected travel plans and holiday gatherings and their impact on our school environment and community metrics related to the transmission of COVID-19.

Due to these concerns, Lyons Township High School will implement an adaptive pause and transition to a full remote learning model for all students beginning Monday, November 16, 2020. The transition to remote learning for all students will be for a minimum of three weeks. Our plan is to resume in-person learning as soon as it is safe to do so. The week of November 30, 2020, we will update staff and families as to the status of our learning plan for the remainder of first semester. 

Our bell schedule and weekly calendar was designed to ensure an efficient transition to full remote (and back to hybrid) when necessary. To that end, please refer to the calendar below to review our daily schedule through Friday, December 18.
LT will continue to provide limited in-person opportunities for high priority learners, as well as after-hours participation in extra-curricular and athletic programs. Please visit the LTHS website for specific information regarding winter sports and activities/clubs. 

Most importantly, our ability to offer in-person instruction is directly impacted by transmission rates within our community, and mitigation efforts require our collective efforts to be successful. Please stay home when possible, hold activities outdoors and in small groups, and practice the following healthy habits:
  • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are in public and around people who don’t live in your household;
  • Watch your distance to maintain at least 6 feet from others as much as possible; and
  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.

We will continue to communicate updates and we encourage you to reach out if you have questions or if you need clarification on any of the information included within this message.

As always, many thanks for your patience, understanding, flexibility and commitment to safety.

Tim Kilrea 
Superintendent 
100 S. Brainard Ave.,
LaGrange, IL 60525
(708) 579-6300