Citing a “stability” in key health metrics, River Forest District 90 has restarted its hybrid learning plan by welcoming students back to classes this week.
The district began allowing its youngest students to return to school in late October with hopes to gradually bring older students back, but had to “pause” in-person learning after just one week due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Officials said “increased stability” in key metrics during the previous three weeks allowed for students to return to classes on Dec. 14. At that time, students in grades pre-kindergarten through fourth grade returned to blended instruction onsite.
According to the Cook County Department of Public Health, confirmed COVID-19 cases in River Forest have decreased between Nov. 21 and Dec. 12. In total, the village has 453 reported COVID-19 cases.
“Aside from a few minor hiccups, the return to blended in-person instruction went according to the many plans that were developed in anticipation of this day,” District 90 spokeswoman Dawne Simmons said.
Simmons said faculty members greeted students returning to their respective buildings, and said those who took part remotely were able to participate in classroom activities alongside their in-person peers.
“Both groups of students appeared to be going strong across all three schools,” Simmons said.
Students at Roosevelt Middle School have begun a “phased-in” approach so that each student will attend school in-person at least twice before winter break begins on Dec. 24, officials said.
All District 90 students will return to full remote learning after winter break from Jan. 11 through 15, which officials say is intended to minimize the risks of post-holiday COVID-19 transmission. The blended in-person learning program is expected to resume on Jan. 19, assuming stable health metrics, officials said.
While inside school buildings, students and staff are required to wear face masks at all times, maintain social distancing from other students and refrain from sharing classroom items or bringing personal items from home.
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Students and staff are also subject to reinforced hand washing regimens. Maintenance staff will also be taking part in more stringent cleaning and disinfecting routines at each school building, officials said.
Families wishing to remain fully remote with learning can complete an opt-in form, which is accessible on the district’s website. Families requiring child supervision are encouraged to take part in the West Cook YMCA’s blended learning supervision program, which is open to families in grades 1-6.
At the end of October, the district had begun a “blended in-person learning plan,” which allowed for students to gradually return to classrooms while some still took classes remotely. The district began allowing its pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students back to school buildings on Oct. 21, but had to pause in-person learning just one week later due to increased COVID-19 metrics.
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