Back To School: Homer 33C Answers Your Questions

HOMER GLEN, IL — The Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C on Tuesday published a list of frequently asked questions addressing students' return to classrooms this fall.

The document addresses a number of issues including students' schedules, lunchtime procedures and sanitization. The district said it will be updated with new questions and answers weekly.

The document notates all students and staff will be required to wear masks when inside school buildings, per guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Students will be allowed to remove their masks when eating lunch — meals will be eaten in students' classrooms — and during frequent outdoor breaks when social distancing is possible.

The district said exceptions will be made only for students with doctors notes.

When school kicks off this all, the district will offer blended learning programs hinging on block schedule days and remote education programs.

Blended learning students will be in the classroom two days a week and will learn remotely three days a week. Early childhood students or students who receive special education instructional services will have the option of four days of in-person instruction.

The district said students who live in the same household will be placed on the same day of the blended learning block schedule.

The school will also offer remote education, according to the FAQ. Students in remote programs will be assigned a remote learning teacher and a curriculum that is similar to what is taught in classrooms.

"...We cannot guarantee their academic experience will mirror that of the in-person Discovery program," the document states.

The list of questions and answers also addresses students that get COVID-19 or who are exposed to someone with the new coronavirus.

The school urges families to keep students isolated at home for 14 days if the child or a close contact of the child tests positive for COVID-19 or shows symptoms of the illness.

Families of students will be notified through email and social media if a student tests positive for COVID-19. The district said it will work to inform the community of the steps it's taking to address any COVID-19 exposure situation. The school said families with more exposure to a sick person will be contacted by the local health department.

To prevent the spread of the illness, the school said it will provide students frequent opportunities to wash and sanitize their hands. Further, frequently touched surfaces like door handles and desktops will be disinfected daily.

Students and parents are invited to submit questions to the FAQ by emailing questions@homerschools.org. The district said some questions might not be answered immediately because of the volume of emails.

>>> Click here to read the full list of frequently asked questions.