Parents with students attending Winnetka School District 36 have just a few more days before the deadline to sign a pledge promising their families will abide by the district’s COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, officials said Friday.
The document, called the Winnetka Public Schools Health and Safety Pledge, which parents must sign by Aug. 27, was created to remind families that the district’s commitment to health and safety during the COVID-19 global pandemic “not only supports our schools, but also extends to the whole community’s health and wellness,” officials said in a Friday statement.
“Together, we must understand how interconnected we are. Our individual decisions impact not only our own health, but that of others,” officials said.
A district spokeswoman said Friday that the pledge, “is not a legally binding document.”
But the digital document asks that families read the district’s expectations “carefully in order to understand the commitment we are asking of all school community members.”
Families are required to acknowledge their agreement with the pledge by signing the document before the start of the 2020-2021 school year on Aug. 27, officials said.
The pledge outlines a slate of expectations, including providing support “to others in the community by listening and assisting to the best of our ability. We will strive to be patient and understanding, knowing that this is a difficult situation, impacting each of us differently,” the document states.
Families are also asked to commit to participating in the district’s daily health screening process, including using a crisis safety app that will be used to determine whether it is appropriate for students to come to campus each day.
The pledge asks that families commit to viewing the district’s COVID-19 online training videos prior to the start of school to ensure students are aware of mask requirements, and proper hand-washing and social distancing.
Parents are also asked to ensure that any student who is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, or has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus, will follow the Cook County Health Department’s protocols for isolation and quarantine.
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Students will be required to adhere to guidelines for wearing a mask on school grounds, as well as en route to school if they are unable to maintain six feet of social distancing from others.
Families are also being asked to follow COVID-19 safety precautions when not on campus, including maintaining proper hand washing, avoiding large groups at social gatherings, and complying with non-essential travel restrictions and voluntarily quarantine for 14-days if recommended.
“During this time of uncertainty, we will ask our school community members to hold themselves and others health and safety standards for the benefit of all,” officials said, adding: “This will require adapting to some new norms while also understanding that we can grow as a community by caring for one another.”
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