D308 Students Could Return To School In Phases Starting January

OSWEGO, IL — Students of the Oswego School District 308 will start returning to school in January in a phased-in manner under the board-approved hybrid model of learning if COVID-19 metrics allow.

During the Board of Education's Monday meeting, Superintendent John Sparlin said the "neediest and youngest" students will be the first ones to go back to in-person classes. With that in mind, general education elementary, early childhood and special education students will be back in January, followed by junior high and high school students.

He said the goal is to have all students in the hybrid model by February.

"If our metrics are the same or similar to what they currently are now in January, we will continue in our current remote plan until that changes," Sparlin said.

The phased-in plan will be communicated to parents and staff before the beginning of winter break on Dec. 23.

"Our team has been meeting regularly to put together a new phased-in plan for when we are able to start bringing our students back to school in the hybrid model the board has previously approved," Sparlin said. "As we have all seen in recent weeks, the positivity rate in our area and the number of new cases per 100,000 (residents) have remained very high."

In a memo to the board, Director of Communications and Public Relations Theresa Komitas, wrote about the COVID-19 metrics in Kendall County.

"COVID-19 metrics remain elevated; on December 2 Illinois experienced the single-highest number of deaths in a day since the onset of the pandemic. A temporary decline in both testing and positivity occurred just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, however experts anticipate a spike based on travel and gatherings," Komitas wrote.

As of Dec. 2, metrics in the OSD 308 area that covers four zip codes, shows a rolling average number tested per day of 448.3, a rolling average number of positive COVID-19 tests per day of 72.6, a rolling average positivity rate of 16.9 percent, and 453.4 new cases over a 7-day period per 100,000 residents, she said.

"We are currently developing additional guidelines and metrics that will assist with the decision on when it is appropriate to resume in-person learning and also when it is necessary to utilize an adaptive pause," Komitas wrote. "These metrics will include the presence and utilization of mitigation strategies as well as the use of SD 308 COVID-19 tracking data to inform decisions on learning settings."

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has indicated a widely available vaccine could begin distribution in Illinois
within the next two to three weeks. Prioritization begins with healthcare workers, first
responders and long-term care facilities. However, Sparlin said the vaccine will not help in bringing back students earlier.

"We all have the same want and the same desire to bring our kids back to our buildings, but we also need to be cognizant of the metrics and continue to follow the signs," he said.