VVSD Students To Start New School Year With Full Remote Learning

BOLINGBROOK, IL — The Valley View School District students will begin the 2020-2021 school year with full remote learning amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Board of Education has approved the Return Together 365 Fall Reopening Plan during its Thursday meeting.

According to it, all learners will begin learning at home for the first quarter of the fall, beginning on Aug. 26 (Sept. 2 for Early Childhood students). The quarter will end on Oct. 23, at which point the district will evaluate the situation and take steps for initiating a hybrid or in-person option.

The plan calls for a phased approach to bringing students on-site with an emphasis on an improved and structured remote learning model and solidified health and safety protocols. In addition, VVSD administration will continually assess conditions during the first quarter for a potential earlier return for some groups of learners with a planned transition on-site for those who select hybrid attendance.

"The Board thanks the VVSD staff for their countless hours in their planning in an attempt to hit a moving target due to evolving messages and guidelines from various state agencies,” said VVSD Board President Steve Quigley in a release. "We are in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. As a community, we are doing the best that we can under the circumstances. We are choosing a full remote return because we have to consider what causes the least potential disruption to student learning. "

He said that if they had stuck with the earlier hybrid plan and then be forced to change to the full remote model, "that would result in a disruption to students that we avoid by approving a full remote return. "

"Our students have already suffered enough disruptions." he said.

Superintendent Rachel Kinder explained the change in the administrative recommendation by saying, "This is not a decision that we make lightly since we truly want our students in school with us where we know we can support them the best. We also realize this will be quite disappointing news for some families, students and staff who were hoping to have at least some in-person time together."

She added that this will also bring significant challenges for families with childcare and those who rely on the school for many resources.

"With this said, however, we know that we cannot confidently recommend an in-person return on Aug. 26 that will meet the expectations for safety and high quality instruction and services for every learner," she said.

The new plan describes four phases "in which we will reassess the status of health conditions official guidance, and district readiness to determine when we can begin a cautious and measured approach to bringing students on-site," Kinder wrote in her executive summary.

Stage 1 (Through Oct. 23) - Remote Learning

• All learners participate in remote learning
• On-site student visits by appointment only as authorized by administration (or designee)
• Faculty and staff work from on-site as required to meet work expectations

Stage 2 (TBD) - Remote Learning and Transition

• Remote learning continues for the majority of students
• Learners invited on-site for targeted learning/support
• Consideration of return to on-site learning for specific programs/grade bands
• Faculty and staff work on-site as required to meet work expectations

Stage 3 (TBD) - Hybrid Learning

• Learners participate in hybrid learning (remote +on-site learning) as assigned
• Remote learning continues as necessary based on family selection

Stage 4 (TBD) - In-Person Learning

• All learners and staff return to full in-person learning

The district will reassess at the 6-week mark for a possible return at 9 weeks and then continue to reassess at 6 week increments as necessary. Stages 1-3 will be implemented as long as the State of Illinois is in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. Stage 4 will be implemented only when Phase 5 is achieved and IDPH and ISBE guidance allow for a full return. Extracurricular participation will be allowed as per IHSA and IDPH guidelines.