Glencoe District 35 officials are planning for a more traditional school year, but pandemic-related safety measures will remain in place.
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Schools opened to students Aug. 30 and the District 35 administrative team previewed the 2021-22 school year at the Aug. 5 board meeting. District 35 officials spoke of a desire to return to customary procedures this year, starting with a whole year set to feature full day, in-person learning at the village’s three schools.
“We fully support that. We ended our year in that place and we have a full commitment for our new year to be that way as well,” Superintendent Catherine Wang said.
The new year will start with the recently announced state mandate that masks must be worn by staff, students and visitors inside at all schools.
Wang said she supported the state masking mandate because that allows for some of the anticipated changes this year, including a three-foot distance for social distancing, instead of six feet.
“We do not have six-foot spacing in our classrooms, we have no interest in going back to that type of classroom environment,” Wang said.
School board president Kelly Glauberman also supported the mask mandate.
“Having this option with universal masking will allow us to have a more normal school year where children are sitting without their desk shields, their pods and having collaborative small group experiences,” she said.
Wang then cautioned other changes could be coming at some point if directed from the state.
“We have to be flexible and evolve from what is coming at us from the health department and the state board of education,” she said.
In terms of vaccines, Wang said families of age-eligible children have received a form to upload and record regarding vaccination status.
“We are not saying you must have vaccination. It is allowing us to have that information so should a case occur we can more swiftly follow the right health protocol in terms of next steps,” Wang said.
Wang said the information provides more accurate data as the school district works with the various health departments.
“The more accurate information we have to share it strengthens our case for other mitigation layers,” Wang said.
Wang asked families and staff members to stay home if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. She said the district’s testing procedures will allow a faster process to determine if someone has symptoms and whether that person can return to class quickly.
“We want to maximize full day, in-person learning for every child,” she said. “We do not want a revolving door of children in and out as we think about what we dealt with last year.”
Students will be allowed to use lockers in the buildings this year, but officials are asking that they are not decorated to prevent students from staying around them.
The classrooms will not have plexiglass shields, desks will be moved together and teachers can use rugs and learning tables.
“We are going to be able to have school feel more like school,” West School Principal Erica Zuhr said.
Children can eat in the lunchrooms at all three buildings this year, but they will not be filled to capacity and families will have the option to pick up students for lunch, according to South School Principal Kelly Zonghetti.
Wang said there would not be a fully remote option provided this year.
“We don’t feel that it is in the best interest or need for any of our children,” she said. “In person is where we will be providing full learning.”
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Wang noted a remote learning plan would be provided to students who are not eligible for the vaccine if they have close contact with a confirmed case.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter.