Here's Another Reason D-86 Students May Go Remote

HINSDALE, IL — More than two-thirds of students are attending school in person at Hinsdale Central and South high schools.

But that ratio may drop starting next month — at least at Central, a student leader says.

At last week's school board meeting, Central senior Heather Raslan told the board that her fellow seniors may start going remote in the hopes they can attend graduation.

As it is, an increasing number of students, faculty and staff in Hinsdale High School District 86 are in quarantine because they have come into close contact with those who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Anyone under quarantine order will be barred from attending the school's "prom-like" event on Saturday, said Raslan, Central's student liaison to the school board.

"One of the hardest things for students is contact tracing. I 100 percent understand that it is necessary, but from our point of view, it's really stressful and disappointing whenever a person walks into the classroom to do contact tracing. She is like the grim reaper," Raslan said to laughs.

Raslan said being contact traced means missing a sports season or other important events.

"I know a lot of seniors who are considering not going to school — I mean being remote, obviously — in May, so they can make sure they can go to their graduation," Raslan said.

The district said in a statement, "We intend to create an accommodation plan for any student who is quarantined so that they can attend their graduation ceremony in person. However, students who are in isolation (i.e., they have received a positive or probable COVID-19 diagnosis) will not be allowed to attend their ceremony in person, but will be able to view it via livestream and have their name read out loud."

Graduation is set for May 17.

As of Friday, the number of District 86 faculty, staff and students in quarantine was 206, with 19 testing positive for the coronavirus.