District 230 Goes Remote For First Day Back After Rescheduling

TINLEY PARK, IL — District No. 230 officials announced students' first day back to school would be through remote learning due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the south suburbs.

According to a social media post from the district representing Stagg, Sandburg and Andrew high schools, administration pushed the first day back to Jan. 7 to give teachers additional time to plan how to wrap up the final few days of the first semester.

Now, district officials told Patch students and teachers will be in remote classes on Jan. 7 and resume in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 10.

As many students had to quarantine over the last week of school leading into winter break, officials said some students will need to take final exams and finish other work before they can formally begin their second semester.

"Due to predicted staffing concerns, projected low student attendance, and the significant increase in community positivity, we believe that an eLearning day is appropriate and will help ensure a safe reopening on January 10th," a spokeswoman for Andrew High School said in a statement. "Therefore, January 7th will be an eLearning day, specifically designed to provide information regarding class syllabus, expectations, and introductory assignments."

District No. 210 Lincoln-Way high schools also voted to alter their first week back to school by switching to remote learning through Jan. 7.

The change in schedule had to be approved by the school board in December, meaning teachers will have the regularly scheduled institute day on Jan. 5 and an unstructured workday in person on Jan. 6 without students.