D202 Delays Return To In-Person Learning Until Further Notice

PLAINFIELD, IL — As coronavirus numbers in the state continue to rise, the Plainfield School District 202 told the Board of Education during its Monday meeting that it will delay the return of students to in-person learning because of changing COVID-19 conditions, staffing challenges, and scheduling.

About 300 multi-needs special education students returned to school on Oct.26, and a 100 more opted to continue with remote learning. They were the first group of students to return and will continue to attend in-person classes because they need direct attention and support more than other students.

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Superintendent Lane Abrell told the board that the district will take an "adaptive pause" and not return other students until further notice. As per the district's Return '20 plan, preschool and kindergarten students were scheduled to return on Nov. 5. D202 started the school year Aug. 31 with remote learning for all.

"We all understand the importance of having students in school for face-to-face instruction," Abrell said. "It was wonderful seeing those students come back through our doors this morning."

This decision comes after the district reported that more students and staff members tested positive for the coronavirus last week than they did the week before according to the latest numbers.

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As of Friday, 52 employees and students have tested positive since Aug. 10. The new cases last week numbered 11, compared to seven the week before, according to the district.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced earlier last week that state official will impose new restrictions on Region 7 (Will and Kankakee) after positivity rates in those two regions eclipsed 8 percent for three straight days.

While school districts are generally exempt from the governor's mitigation strategies, they are an important indicator of the environment created by COVID-19. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the metrics for school determination of community spread in Will County shows a positivity rate of 8.9 percent, which is a substantial risk.

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Abrell said district administration will continue to monitor five key metrics over the next 10-14 days:

• Positivity rate (five consecutive data points flat or trending down of COVID-19 cases in Will County)
• Guidance from IDPH, ISBE, and CDC as well as Kendall and Will County Health Departments
• Cleaning and disinfecting supplies are readily available and able to be refilled in a timely manner
• PPE supplies readily available and able to be refilled in a timely manner
• Substitute pool is greater or equal to the number of substitutes needed for in person learning.

"We are looking at this situation as a community health issue, which is on the verge of overwhelming all of us," he said. "No one wants the students back in school more than we do, but we need to make a balanced decision. The health and safety of our 26,000 students and 3,200 staff will always be our first priority."

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