District 97 Framework for Reopening Schools

Posted October 9, 2020

Dear District 97 Community,

Once again, we want to start off by thanking you for your patience as we work through the challenges of this school year and carefully consider our plans for Trimester 2. Today we are sharing the District 97 Framework for Reopening Schools, which includes information about our remote and hybrid learning models, as well as the procedures that will be implemented to protect the health and safety of our students and staff. This document is the result of months of planning, research and collaboration by more than 100 District 97 staff members. It reflects the most up-to-date recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), as well as the insights, experiences and expertise of a wide range of individuals.

A shorter overview of our plans can be accessed here, or by clicking the image to the right.

We appreciate that there is no "one size fits all" solution to the challenges presented by the pandemic. We have therefore developed a plan that would allow us to provide on-site learning opportunities for students, while continuing to offer a robust remote learning program for those who wish to continue in our current model.

To assist the development of plans to support learners in-person, as well as remotely (for those who select to continue in that learning model), we are asking all parents to complete the Trimester 2 Learning Selection Form for each student in their household by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Before you complete this form, here are some things you need to know:

District 97 will continue to offer a full-time remote learning option for students during Trimester 2.
When the district begins offering hybrid learning, we cannot guarantee that students will maintain their current teachers/class assignments—whether they continue with remote learning or transition to the hybrid schedule. District 97 will do its best to ensure that students have the same teacher(s) from their home school from the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, but as various circumstances and scenarios arise (including, but not limited to an analysis of the number of students who are opted into each model), it must be noted that it is possible that students will not have the same teacher or, in some cases, be assigned to the same school.
Changing health conditions and operational variables (e.g., staffing, student enrollment and state guidance) may impact our timeline and implementation of transitions.
Below are the links to documents that explain our plan, mitigation strategies and other important information about a potential transition to onsite learning. Please carefully review these documents before completing the Learning Selection Form for your student(s).
- District 97 Framework for Reopening Schools (master document)
- Guidebook: District 97 Return to School Plan (condensed overview)
There are two upcoming opportunities for the community to learn more about the district’s planning work for Trimester 2 before completing their Learning Selection Form:
- D97 Board of Education Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 13 - 7 p.m.
  The District 97 administrative team will provide an update on return-to-school planning during the Oct. 13 board of education meeting. Community questions will be addressed during the town hall Oct. 19 (see below).
  
  The meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom, and will be streamed live on the district’s YouTube channel. (Click here for meeting information.)
- Virtual Town Hall: Monday, Oct. 19 - 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  District 97 will hold a virtual town hall for the community on Monday, Oct. 19. We will spend the majority of the time answering questions submitted by parents and community members. The event will be streamed live on the district's YouTube channel.
  
  CLICK HERE to submit your questions about the district’s Trimester 2 plans by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14. An outside facilitator will select questions to be answered by panelists from District 97. There will also be an opportunity to submit questions during the town hall.

Key Dates
Tuesday, Oct. 13	Update on reopening plans during Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m. (meeting will be streamed live via YouTube)
Monday, Oct. 19	Virtual Town Hall, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 20	Deadline to complete Learning Selection Form. Schools will begin developing cohorts based on the responses.
Early to mid-November	Release student schedules to families.
Monday, Nov. 30	First day of Trimester 2—target date to transition to Stage 3 and begin offering both hybrid and full remote learning.