During the spring of 2020, our eLearning and remote learning plans were directed by guidance provided by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Governor Pritzker had declared a State of Emergency, which impacted the ISBE’s guidance to school districts. This fall, Illinois is no longer in a State of Emergency, which allows the ISBE to provide different guidance to school districts.

As such, the D181 Remote Learning Plan will require students to engage in at least 5 hours per day of instruction for all 1st-8th grade students. Since our Preschool and Kindergarten programs are half-day, kindergarten students will be provided with 2 hours and 15 minutes of daily instruction and preschool students will not have a remote option unless the governor orders a return to full remote.

In the remote model, minutes have been dedicated to synchronous and asynchronous instruction specific to each grade level and considered developmentally appropriate.

We will provide a parallel remote learning option to all families who prefer it.

School staff will communicate with you as to when videoconferencing, live streaming and recorded lessons will be available for your student – either for individual or group instruction. On your end, if your student is participating in a group instructional or related service session as part of remote instruction, we ask that you ensure that your student is in a quiet, school-work designated space and/or using headphones and that your student’s device is non-public facing. We are asking students and parents to maintain information learned about other students in a confidential manner, just as we would expect for our students who participate in group sessions and classes while attending in-person instruction. This request applies to maintaining information related to student participation in livestream class lessons and prerecorded class lessons in a confidential manner. No video conferencing session, or livestreaming or prerecorded lesson may be recorded or redistributed by students or parents in any manner.

Parents may be asked to schedule an appointment to have the testing completed. Sessions will be held in a room with the assessment administrator that has been sanitized. Students may bring their own materials (pencils, headphones, etc.) or new or sanitized supplies will be provided. Parents will need to wait in their vehicle or will be provided a pick-up time as needed.

We have an investigative process in place that follows the notification of a positive test. Following the investigation, we will notify audiences in the following order: Families of students who were in Close Contact, families of students in the same classroom, families of students in the same school. Lastly, we will be posting a list of all positive cases on the District website on a weekly basis.

All individuals on a bus must wear a face covering, no more than 50 individuals should be on a bus at one time, and social distancing must be maintained to the greatest extent possible. Students must undergo symptom and temperature checks, which may include self-certification, before boarding a bus. Seating charts are also recommended. Seating arrangements with respect to social distancing can be adjusted for students who live in a household with other students. All school buses will be sanitized daily. (More transportation-related FAQs are available on d181.org/parents)

ISBE guidance states: Face shields are not effective protection against coronavirus and should only be used in situations when other methods of protection are not available. IDPH also appreciates that there may be a small minority of individuals who have a medical contraindication to using face coverings. If face shields can be tolerated, face shields might be utilized in these situations, understanding their limitations and the heightened need for strict adherence to social distancing.

ISBE recommends that schools review information such as a physician’s note documenting the medical contraindication for any individual who is not able to wear a face covering”

*D181 has purchased additional/alternative PPE for this purpose including gowns, face shields, window masks, more “kid-friendly” masks.

Services for students receiving special education will be provided either in-person, remote, or blended remote (combination of in-person and remote) based on individual student needs.

During any period of blended remote instruction or full-time remote instruction, your student will receive services and support tailored to your student’s individualized educational needs. The District general education staff and IEP teams have collaborated to make good faith efforts to determine what individual supports may be necessary to address students’ needs during any periods of blended or fulltime remote instruction. In addition, in planning for the delivery of special education and related services to students with disabilities remotely, your student’s special education providers have carefully considered your student’s individual needs and current circumstances, including your student’s goals, supports, and services in determining the appropriate support and services to be provided to your student during periods of blended or full-time remote instruction. To that end, your student will receive appropriate special education and related services, accommodations, modifications, and support as necessary to provide your student with a free appropriate public education during any period of blended or full-time remote instruction.

If Districts are closed due to a State order, required classroom quarantine, or other reasons, students will be provided the services indicated on their Individual Remote Learning Plan. These plans are revised for the 2020/2021 school year and reflect the additional expectations for increased learning opportunities and to continue to provide a free, appropriate, public education.

In a hybrid model, we would offer all students with an IEP (grades 1-8) an opportunity to attend a full-day of in-person instruction on days that D181 instruction is being provided in-person within our schools. Individual student conversations will occur to determine how each student’s IEP will be implemented and discuss parent preference of Full Remote or Hybrid and related services needs.

In a hybrid model, we would offer all students who receive ELL services (grades 1-8) an opportunity to attend a full-day of in-person instruction on days that D181 instruction is being provided in-person within our schools. Individual student conversations will occur to determine how each student’s language needs can be best supported and to discuss parent preference in service delivery.

A hybrid model can be implemented in several ways such as an A/B day, am/pm or alternating week format. D181 is unique in that we offer three levels of math starting in 3rd grade and two levels of language arts as well as two levels of social studies in middle school. Since we have several course levels starting in 3rd grade, we are carefully reviewing all hybrid models to find the best fit that allows us to deliver our current course offerings while maximizing core in-person instruction. It is our intention to prioritize core content during in-person instruction and utilize remote periods to support any instruction that is not delivered in-person as well as practice, intervention, and enrichment opportunities for students.

Yes. D181 is working to secure additional staff to be able to reduce class sizes in all Preschool and Kindergarten sections to allow students to attend for the previously scheduled two and a half hours.

Parents will have to commit to a semester or full-year of instruction (in-person) and pay the tuition. If a parent only pays for a semester, a student will have a reserved spot for the semester. If a parent has paid tuition for a full year, the student will be secured a spot for the full year.

Synchronous and asynchronous activities will be developed by Social Workers and psychologists. Some resources will also be available on the D181 website for parents, students, and staff to access outside of school hours.

Teachers will continue to be provided with opportunities for ongoing Professional Development and ongoing social-emotional support. In the spring of 2020, all staff received professional development opportunities in using various digital applications. Over the summer, multiple teachers have received additional training to enhance our ability to support teachers if remote learning is mandated this year. During the August professional development days, time will be devoted to training all staff using our common digital platforms that will be utilized for remote learning.

The framework is strictly based on the ISBE and IDPH guidance. We have shared our framework with the DuPage County Health Department.and our legal department to assure adherence to the health guidelines.

We have created two components to our reopening plan that have focused on ISBE/IDPH safety guidance and implementation. After receiving the reopening guidance, we spent a few days interpreting the information and then sharing it with our Transition committee for their feedback. The Transition committee is made up of teachers, parents, a BoE representative, and administrators. Since then, we have converted the guidelines to a framework and requested feedback from teachers, parents, BoE members, and administrators. Our staff will also be meeting in working groups prior to the start of the school year.

Yes, we have been in conversation with The Community House who has committed to work with families on issues surrounding child care.

We have enhanced our cleaning procedures to meet or exceed CDC and IDPH guidelines. Products used are Environmental Protection Agency approved disinfectants for use against coronavirus.

Sanitation, hygiene, and PPE supplies are available for employee and student access.

All custodial/maintenance staff will be trained on the return-to-school guidelines, where applicable. These procedures will include extra sanitation efforts using certified EPA products in both low/high contact areas.

Building custodians will conduct cleaning and disinfection throughout the day. An EPA approved cleaner will be used for disinfection along with our standard cleaning protocols. All frequently touched surfaces (e.g., door handles/knobs, desktops/tabletops, countertops, light switches, phones, cubbies/coat and backpack areas, sinks, and faucets) will be cleaned regularly throughout each day.

Restrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and high touch common areas will be cleaned throughout the day. Soft surfaces such as carpets and rugs will be removed from the classroom. Items such as cloth toys or other cloth material items that cannot be disinfected will be eliminated.

Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms, offices, entrances, bathrooms, hallways and lunch areas.

Yes, wet wipes will be provided to wipe down desks during transition time. By wiping the surface it reduces the risk of exposure. Students will be using hand sanitizer when they enter the room and leave the room. However, students will not be using disinfected products due to CVC guidance, “cleaning and disinfection products should not be used by children or near children, and staff should ensure that there is adequate ventilation when using these products to prevent children or themselves from inhaling toxic fumes.”

Custodial staff will be cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces throughout the day.

Custodial staff will be cleaning and disinfecting classrooms during the 60-minute break in the middle of the day as well as at night.

The DuPage County Regional Office of Education has received guidance from ISBE that all school safety drills must still be conducted this year as required by law. We are planning, with the cooperation of the local police and fire departments to complete the following:

• The first fire (evacuation) drill will be a walk-through, without the alarm, with the local fire departments (Hinsdale Fire Department, Clarendon Hills Fire Department, Pleasantview Fire Protection District) on-site to witness. There will be one class per exit route until all classes have completed the drill, keeping with social distancing guidelines. The drills may be spread out over a couple of days if necessary due to school schedules. After review of the new drill practices during the first part of this year, remaining drills may have to be conducted in a similar manner or it may be conducted as in any other year. A key component is having the conversation with the local fire departments.

• Shelter in place drills may be done at any time during the school year. Many districts complete these in the spring. Due to the pandemic, we are planning to complete this drill on a class-by-class basis and still meet requirements.

• Bus evacuation drills must still be done and in smaller groups on the bus according to the school needs.

• Law enforcement drills are still required within the first 90 days of school. This will be a modified walk-through coordinated with local law enforcement on-site (Hinsdale Police Department, Clarendon Hills Police Department and Burr Ridge Police Department).

IN-PERSON: The in-person classroom teacher will continue to work with their students following the parallel remote learning guidelines.

PARALLEL REMOTE: The student’s parallel remote teacher will continue to work with the students. Please note that parallel remote learning teachers are D181 staff members, who will be working with students from throughout the district.

The building controls system is being modified to optimize the system’s potential for increased outside fresh airflow. The more outside air that is brought into the facility, the less recirculation air there is, and the better the interior environment will be to limit the spread of the pathogens. Condenser coils are all currently being cleaned and filters are being changed and upgraded to capture smaller airborne particles. This work will be completed before students and staff arrive in the buildings. Filters will be changed on a more frequent basis throughout the rest of the school year. The District will be following all the recommendations from ISBE and ASHRAE that our current mechanicals will allow, as we move into the school year. Our mechanical engineers have reviewed this plan and provided these recommendations.

All buildings were designed to ASHRAE standards when built. ASHRAE has issued guidance on reopening schools, including items that go above and beyond the minimum code. We have reviewed the guidance and are implementing all of the recommendations that are feasible to provide the best and safest possible environment.

All demand-controlled ventilation will be disabled, outside air intake will be increased and we will have upgraded from MERV 8 to MERV 11 district-wide, prior to student arrival. We will increase to MERV 13 as soon as those filters are available and as our equipment will allow.

Yes, all schools have operable windows, however, humidity levels must be closely monitored.

Some bathrooms have filtered exhaust and some have outside air exhaust systems.

For COVID-19, a close contact is defined as any individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset.

Per IDPH’s latest guidance, “there is widespread, ongoing transmission of novel coronavirus worldwide. Anyone who has traveled internationally in the past 14 calendar days should stay home and monitor their health. There is no current statewide guidance in Illinois for quarantining domestic travelers. However, some counties or municipalities do require or recommend 14 calendar days of quarantine for travelers returning from states with high community prevalence of COVID-19. IDPH does receive frequent notifications of travelrelated exposures. If public health is notified that a student or staff member is a contact to a COVID-19 case as a result of travel, quarantine for 14 calendar days will be required. As an employer working with vulnerable populations, school administrators may consider advising staff who travel that they are required to quarantine (if exposed) due to travel.”

• All students and staff sent home with COVID-like symptoms should be diagnostically tested. Student and staff should remain home from school until they receive the test results.

• Students and staff who are confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 must complete 10 calendar days of isolation from the date of first symptom onset and be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved before returning to school.

• Students and staff returning to school after experiencing COVID-like symptoms but being diagnosed with a non-COVID illness must meet the criteria for returning to school for the illness with which they have been diagnosed. At a minimum, the individual must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have had no diarrhea or vomiting in the previous 24 hours.

Other diseases have specific criteria for when a student or staff member can return to school:

• Follow school health policies and communicable disease guidance for those illnesses. A doctor’s note documenting the alternative diagnosis and a negative COVID-19 test result should accompany a student or staff member returning to school with an alternative diagnosis after experiencing COVID-like symptoms. Schools and districts should assist families in locating free or reduced cost medical clinics for assistance where needed.

• Students and staff with COVID-like symptoms who do not get tested for COVID-19 and who do not provide a doctor’s note documenting an alternative diagnosis, must complete 10 calendar days of isolation from the date of first symptom onset and be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved before returning to school.

• Medical evaluation and COVID-19 diagnostic testing is strongly recommended for all persons with COVID-like symptoms.

Yes, if one of the household members is being evaluated for COVID-19, the rest of the household must be quarantined until an alternative diagnosis is made or a negative result received. If the sick student becomes a confirmed case (i.e., tests positive for COVID-19) or a probable case (i.e., has COVID-like symptoms and is epidemiologically linked to known case), the local health department (LHD) conducting contact tracing will place household contacts, including siblings, in quarantine for 14 calendar days. The health department also will provide guidance on how to safely quarantine and isolate within the household.

To avoid over-exposure, they will likely be assigned to groups of students all day (IEP students in attendance all day) OR they will stay with a certain group AM and support remote students PM or vice versa.

The school nurses who are RNs will be developing procedures to follow up with children and communicate with parents who need to be quarantined or are home.

• Phenomenal – By HOSPECO, a fogger EPA Reg. No. 44446-67, that meets EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
  
• Oxivir (liquid and wipes) – a virucidal disinfectant EPA Reg. No. 70627-56, approved by the CDC for use in killing the SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
  
• Lysol disinfecting Wipes – EPA Reg No. 777-114 a CDC approved disinfectant for use in killing the SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
  
• ABC Linen Fresh disinfectant - EPA Reg. No. ___________ a spray disinfectant with a 3 minute virucide time, meets EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. (pending final EPA label approval).
  
• QA Concentrated Solution, a disinfectant that meets EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.- EPA Reg. No. 6198-4.

The District will supply a tower air purifier in nurses offices. The purifier employs a fine preliminary filter, true HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter to effectively remove 99.97% of dust, pollen, smoke, odor, mold spores, and pet dander and filter out particles as small as 0.3 microns and larger and filters air pollution of PM 2.5. There are also air purifiers for every secondary nurse room and for each medically accommodated staff member.