West Aurora District 129 To Offer Remote, Hybrid Learning Plans

AURORA, IL — Much like their peers throughout the country, students in West Aurora School District 129 are grappling with how they will complete their coursework during the fall semester.

Officials revealed the district’s plan for safely reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday. The district is offering students the choice between full-time remote learning or a hybrid model that would see them split their time between the classroom and home.

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Starting Friday, parents and students in District 129 can make their selections for the upcoming semester, according to a letter from Superintendent Jeff Craig. Families will have until 4 p.m. July 31 to opt for remote learning or the district’s hybrid model.

Under the District 129 “Return to Learn” hybrid plan, students would spend two or three days in school each week on a rotating schedule. Students will complete coursework remotely on the other days. The district will divide students into two groups based on their last names.

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Students will be required to practice social distancing “as much as possible” and wear masks while in school facilities, according to officials. Students could be disciplined if they do not wear their masks, though there will be opportunities for “mask breaks,” officials said.

The district will give each student a mask, and provide masks to students who show up to school without one. But students could be forced to switch to remote learning if they repeatedly show up for school without a mask, officials said.

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The district will require students to certify each morning that they are free of coronavirus-related symptoms before attending school.

If a student tests positive for the coronavirus, they will be immediately sent home and told to self-quarantine for 14 days, officials said. Anyone who spent more than 15 minutes within 6 feet of anyone who tested positive or is suspected to have the coronavirus will also be asked to self-quarantine for two weeks before returning to school.

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“Your patience has allowed us to develop a detailed plan for our students that follows state guidance while taking into consideration the unique needs of the community we serve,” Craig wrote in his letter to parents. “I am confident that it represents the very best approach to support students while maintaining a safe, positive, adaptable and healthy learning environment.”

Students who enroll in full-time remote learning for the fall semester are locked in until at least the winter break. The district has redesigned the remote learning method used in the spring, with a focus on core academic areas, state-mandated content and graduation requirements, according to the plan.

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Remote students must be “academically engaged” for at least five hours each school day and will not be able to complete work at night or on weekends. They will have “very limited access” to extracurriculars and will not be able to participate alongside students following the district’s hybrid model.

District 129’s school year is scheduled to begin Aug. 18, with students who chose the hybrid model set to learn their schedules in early August.

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