COVID-19 Update / Return to School

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January 20, 2022 

Dear District #7 families,  

As we continue to monitor our COVID-19 situation daily, I wanted to provide an update on where we stand today.  

  • There are currently 54 staff members that are currently impacted through a positive test for COVID, either for them or someone within their care, or have someone who has been excluded because of COVID. In addition, we continue to monitor ongoing new cases both in District #7 and through our bus contractor, First Student.  
  • At our primary schools, we continue to experience a student absence rate of between 15 and 20% district-wide.   

Based on our current data, our plan is to have ALL students return to in-person learning on Monday, January 24, 2022.  

When we return to school, we ask that you please remember the mitigation strategies we have in place in District #7. This includes always wearing a mask while indoors on school district property as well as when on buses and maintaining social distancing.  

The recent IDPH guidelines indicate that students can return to school five (5) days after a positive test result or being exposed to someone with COVID-19. The guidance also specifies that the student must remain masked and be able to social distance. For some of our student populations, staying masked at all times and being socially distant may not be feasible. Due to this, schools may maintain the ten-day quarantine for those circumstances that meet the above criteria. 

It is also important that you monitor your child(ren)’s health and be aware of any COVID-19 symptoms. Those individuals who exhibit symptoms should NOT report to school and should contact their health care provider to determine if testing is needed. 

We continue to be grateful for all our teachers have done to provide a meaningful learning experience for our students during this time and are thankful for the substitutes and staff who are filling in where needed. We know it has been a challenging time for both our staff and families, but we will continue to push forward together. 

As always, we will continue to communicate updates and any changes. We look forward to seeing all students next week! 

Sincerely,   

Patrick Shelton, Ed.D.
Superintendent