Update Center: COVID-19 and School Closures

Latest Communication

Updated April 2, 2020

D97 Remote Learning Family Guidance

Dear District 97 Community,

We are nearing the end of our second full week of remote learning, and I continue to be inspired by the creativity, flexibility and resilience of our students and staff as they adapt to this new schooling experience. I am also deeply grateful to our families for their efforts to support learning at home.

As we previously shared, a team of district administrators and leaders from the Oak Park Teachers’ Association collaborated to develop a Remote Learning Plan that reflects the values of our community. We understand that we are uniquely situated to continue to provide high-quality educational experiences for students, and our commitment is to do just that.

That said, we also recognize that each family situation is unique and we are cognizant of the challenges created by this unprecedented moment in history. We cannot emphasize enough that we are focused on prioritizing the health and well-being of our students, families and staff. While there may be moments of frustration, please know that we have crafted this plan with families in mind.

Please click here to view our Remote Learning Family Guidance, which we developed to help families gain a better understanding of remote learning and the supports that are available. We anticipate that this document will be updated as we continue to refine and improve our practices in the weeks ahead.

As our school closure continues, we will continue to provide regular updates and provide opportunities for families to connect with the district and share feedback. Information about our next meal distribution is included below. We are also working to finalize dates for our Remote Planning Days for staff, and will share those details as soon as possible.

Finally, I wanted to share just a few examples of the incredible ways that our staff and families are supporting one another during this challenging time:

  • Mann teachers organized a parade through their school neighborhood Wednesday so they could see students (while still practicing social distancing)!
  • Teachers and families are sharing encouraging messages with one another using sidewalk art (Irving) and signs (Longfellow).
  • The District 97 Technology Department is working with school staff to connect with families who may not have access to a device or the Internet at home. They are arranging a pick-up day for iPads and/or wireless hotspots, which will help us ensure that all students have equitable access to remote learning opportunties.

Thank you again for your ongoing patience and support.

Sincerely,

Dr. Carol Kelley
Superintendent

Meal Distribution

Our next meal distribution, which is open to any District 97 student who is in need of food, will be Monday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools).

This distribution will include meals for five days, and will include some perishable items, such as frozen chicken patties and hamburgers. If you have any questions, please contact our food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at [email protected].

Virtual Support with Audio/Video Conferencing

Please review the following documents regarding audio/visual conferencing during remote learning:

If you have a question or a concern about the coronavirus (COVID-19) or the mandated school closure in District 97, we encourage you to ask through Let's Talk.