Oswego-based School District 308 has recommended families be prepared with a plan should the coronavirus outbreak worsen and force the closing of schools.
District 308 Superintendent John Sparlin assured parents in a letter issued Tuesday that “the health and safety of our students and staff is always our district’s highest priority” and staff remains in close contact with the Kendall County Health Department, and in addition buildings are following guidelines set by the Illinois Department of Public Health as well as the Illinois State Board of Education concerning the outbreak.
“At this time, we are not aware of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our schools or in the communities we serve,” Sparlin said. “We continue to review our practices, policies and procedures to be certain we are following the most current guidelines.”
The district is prepared to implement changes if the coronavirus outbreak gets worse that could include the possibility of school closings, and parents should have a plan in place should it get to that point, he said.
“Based on recommendations from health authorities, our district may enact temporary procedural changes, which could include restrictions on visitors to school buildings, possible cancellation or rescheduling of large gatherings or events, and even closing school buildings,” he said.
The decision to close school in District 308 will be made by the district, Sparlin said.
“Social distancing is an important component of our pandemic planning, reducing the potential for exposure of the virus if found in our community. The decision to close schools is made by the district, acting in accordance with guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and our local health department. At this time, the Illinois Department of Public Health is not recommending closing schools,” Sparlin said.
If schools were to close due to circumstances related to the coronavirus, the district would use its emergency days on the school calendar. If used, the five emergency days on the school calendar would be made up at the end of the school year in May.
If closures were to continue beyond five days, they could be considered Act of God Days, and would not be made up if approved by the regional superintendent and the state superintendent of education, he said.
More Top Picks How We Test
District 308 officials said students should remain out of school if they are sick and experiencing fever, cough, sore throat and body aches or other symptoms of illness.
Students should not return to school until they are fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, officials said. All students and staff should wash their hands regularly to reduce the spread of germs, they said.
The district’s normal procedure of cleaning all desks and surfaces in all schools continues, per the recommendation of state health officials.
“We will continue to provide you with any new information we receive regarding this situation, or any changes made to our normal operations,” Sparlin said in his message to parents.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.