Dear Parents/Guardians:
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we returned to school after winter break. It was a challenging week for everyone, but our priority remains to keep our schools open for our students. Today the IDPH updated its school guidance to follow the CDC’s general public guidance and guidance that the CDC approved for K-12 public schools.
The isolation and quarantine period for students and staff members sick with COVID-19 or considered a close contact has been reduced to five days as long as the person is fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms have improved.
If a student or staff member tested positive or first had symptoms on the following date: | The new return to school/work date is the following: |
Monday, 1/3/2022 | Monday, 1/10/2022 |
Tuesday, 1/4/2022 | Tuesday, 1/11/2022 |
Wednesday, 1/5/2022 | Wednesday, 1/12/2022 |
Thursday, 1/6/2022 | Thursday, 1/13/2022 |
Friday, 1/7/2022 | Friday, 1/14/2022 |
*Any date prior to 1/3/2022 may return on Monday, 1/10/2022 | **The date above is if a person is fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms have improved. |
Unvaccinated students and not boosted staff members who are close contacts are now required to quarantine for 5 days. The following is a table with the revised return to school dates:
If an unvaccinated student or not boosted staff member was a close contact on the following: | The new return to school/work date is the following: |
Monday, 1/3/2022 | Monday, 1/10/2022 |
Tuesday, 1/4/2022 | Monday, 1/10/2022 |
Wednesday, 1/5/2022 | Tuesday, 1/11/2022 |
Thursday, 1/6/2022 | Wednesday, 1/12/2022 |
Friday, 1/7/2022 | Thursday, 1/13/2022 |
*Any date prior to 1/3/2022 may return on Monday, 1/10/2022 | **The date above is if a person is fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms have improved. |
Summary of CDC/IDPH Guidance:
If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for a minimum of 5 days and you may return to school/work if you have had no symptoms, or your symptoms have resolved after 5 days. If asymptomatic, the day you test positive is day zero.
If you were exposed and are considered a close contact to someone with COVID-19 and you are vaccinated and boostered (if eligible), or have received a confirmed positive test within the last 90 days, you can continue to attend work/school if you are asymptomatic (symptom-free). It is recommended but not required to test on day 5 after exposure.
If you were exposed and are considered a close contact to someone with COVID-19 and you are not vaccinated, you must be isolated from school/work for 5 days. If you are asymptomatic (symptom-free) may return on day 6. It is recommended but not required to test on day 5 after exposure.
All individuals above must strictly adhere to wearing masks regardless of exemption status upon return to the school environment through day 10.
*Alternative seating will be arranged to insure 6-foot distance while eating through day 10..
This new announcement does not change the state of Illinois’ mask requirement for anyone inside school buildings. The Governor’s indoor mask mandate for school is still in effect until further notice, except for those students/staff who have a mask exemption on file.
As we continue to do all that we can to staff our classrooms and provide support with all of our teaching assistants and other paraprofessionals, we continue to ask for your help. A key to keeping our schools safe and open for in-person learning is to keep symptomatic students home until they are well. Please do not send your child to school, even if symptoms are mild. Your children will be isolated and sent home if they are exhibiting any of the signs of COVID-19. If children that are not feeling well are sent to school it creates an increased likelihood of quarantine for a classroom, a grade level, or perhaps the school. Thank you for your help.
I have attached the information from IDPH and CDC related to quarantine and recommended isolation periods as well as a district decision matrix for your reference.
Sincerely,
Rusty Ragon
Superintendent of Schools