4K Staff, Students Absent Daily: District 300 Superintendent

ALGONQUIN, IL — More than 3,600 students and 370 staff members within District 300 were absent every day this past week, school officials said over the weekend. The state's sixth-largest school district returned from winter break on Jan. 3, and, like many school districts across the Chicago area and nation, saw a big spike in COVID-19 cases.

"This week, we saw some of our highest ever staff and student absences," according to a Saturday letter to parents from District 300 superintendent Susan Harkin. There are more than 20,985 students were enrolled at District 300 schools as of 2018.

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District 300 has been able to keep all of its schools open over the past week, and school officials say they will continue to monitor absences. If staffing shortages make it unmanageable to keep a school open, administrators may decide to close and would notify parents as soon as possible, Harkin said.

"While the absences impact the district, all district staff have stepped up to keep our schools open and continue providing in-person instruction to our students," said Harkin, adding she's "deeply appreciative" of the hard work from teachers and staff members over the past week.

D300 Enacts Restrictions On Spectator Events

Due to the high number of COVID-19 cases, District 300 will limit the number of people allowed to attend athletic and performing arts events at its middle and high schools until further notice.

Here is what will change with the new rules in place:

• There will only be four tickets available per student participant for events in gymnasiums. A maximum of 50 students will be allowed in each student section.
• There will be at least one seat open between each "household pod" during events in the auditorium.

Additional spectators will not be permitted to attend events at this time.

"District 300 is implementing these restrictions as a precautionary measure to ensure athletic competitions and performances can continue as scheduled in the safest manner possible," according to the Friday announcement from District 300 school officials.

New Quarantine Guidance Could Alleviate Staffing Woes

Last week, state and local public officials adopted the Centers for Disease Control's updated guidance on quarantine and isolation time, which shortens the amount of time a person who tests positive for COVID-19 needs to stay at home.

Harkin said the new guidance would mean teachers could return to school sooner.

"We will continue to work daily with our building principals to evaluate absence data. We do believe we will see some relief in absences with the newly updated COVID-19 isolation guidance," according to Harkin.

On Tuesday, the CDC shortened isolation and quarantine periods for the general public from 10 days down to five days for people who had tested positive for COVID-19. Under the new guidance, people who are infected with the virus should then wear a mask for 10 days after isolating for five days.

On Thursday, the CDC extended those guidelines to K-12 schools, stating that staff members or students who test positive should isolate for five days regardless of their vaccination status. Staff or students who show no COVID-19 symptoms can be released from isolation, the CDC said.

Those exhibiting symptoms should extend their isolation until 24 hours after they are symptom-free. The agency said that upon a return to school, staff members or students who have tested positive should wear a mask for five days; if they are not able to wear a mask, they should continue to isolate themselves for a total of 10 days, officials said.

• CDC's Shorter Quarantine Adopted By Illinois State Board Of Ed