School districts in Mundelein, Libertyville and Vernon Hills are joining the majority of Lake County schools that have closed facilities as part of a concerted effort to contain the new coronavirus.
Hawthorn School District 73 in Vernon Hills announced Friday it will be closing school for three weeks, beginning Monday. Community High School District 128 announced it will close Libertyville and Vernon Hills high schools to students starting on Monday.
In a notice on their website, officials at Libertyville Elementary School District 70 said building closings will start Monday and potentially last through April 6.
Mundelein High School District 120 and Mundelein Elementary School District 75 also will be closing for the next two weeks, which will carry the districts into their respective spring breaks.
The moves are precautionary. All of the school districts have no confirmed cases of COVID-19, officials said.
At District 128, school buildings will be closed next week and also the week after the district’s spring break, which lasts from March 23 through March 27. The district will start using its state-approved e-learning plan on Wednesday.
In a letter, District 73 officials said students are slated to return to school April 6. The district decided to close school after consulting with area school officials and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials said.
“Please know this was a very difficult decision for us,” Superintendent Pete Hannigan stated. “We understand this may create challenges for families, but we also believe it is our responsibility to do all we can to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and families and do our part to mitigate the impact of this pandemic.”
District 73 staff will report to school Monday as part of a workday to prepare for e-learning, which would allow students to attend class remotely, officials said. E-learning plans would go into effect Tuesday and continue through April 3, according to the letter.
E-learning will not take place during the district’s spring break, which also is from March 23 through March 27, officials said.
Officials at District 120 and District 75 have no established return date for students, yet.
Both school districts will use “emergency days” on Monday and Tuesday. Any student needing to pick up additional materials may do so between 10 a.m. and noon on Monday, both districts said.
District 120 students will start doing e-learning Wednesday, while District 75 will use emergency days all of next week, according to information released by both school districts.
District 75 officials didn’t immediately clarify Friday whether or when it would start using e-learning.