
Message from Dr. K
Covid Updates - November 4, 2020
Message from Dr. K
Dear District 41 Community, clic para espanol
I am happy to share that we have successfully transitioned to the blended model for all grade levels. It was a great start to in-person learning this week for 3rd - 8th grade students. We will continue to monitor all of the factors that will allow us to keep kids in school for those families who have chosen the blended in-person model.
We need all families to help us by keeping kids home if they are sick, if someone in the family is sick with covid-like symptoms, and/or has tested positive for COVID-19. Click here for a letter from the Dupage County Health Department with updated exclusionary guidance.
It is important to note that for a symptomatic individual with COVID-19-like-illness, DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is requiring a confirmatory negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test result within 48 hours following a negative antigen test result or negative rapid molecular (rapid PCR) test result, for documentation required to return to school.
In the absence of confirmatory testing, the student/staff member must complete the minimum 10-day isolation period prior to returning to school.
Parents, please share this with your physician/pediatrician so that they are aware of the requirements in DuPage County.
Update on Staffing
As the community transmission rate continues to skyrocket, we are noticing that our substitute teacher pool is strained. Subs are less willing to do in-person subbing in our blended model even when the teacher is providing the instruction remotely. Today alone, we had 20 classrooms that needed coverage. We are seeing this number increase which is to be expected when community transmission rates are as high as they are in Glen Ellyn and the surrounding communities. Please note that stable staffing is crucial to our ability to remain open.
Holidays and COVID-19 Concerns
We already know of some covid issues related to Halloween gatherings over the weekend in the community and we are becoming increasingly concerned about the upcoming holidays. With the number of families who plan to travel and/or host larger family gatherings, it is inevitable that we will see continued increases in the community transmission rates. Some local districts are discussing the need for an Adaptive Pause between Thanksgiving and Winter Break. We will keep our families updated as we continue to monitor the county data as well as our own internal data.
We are trying to hang on with our blended model as long as possible but we need our families to share in this commitment. Please do not send students to school when you have a positive case (or when someone in your family has a pending COVID test result) in your immediate family or within any groups for which you are close contacts. If one of your students is sick, please keep all siblings home. We know that these are very challenging situations to navigate but if people do not follow this, it is inevitable that we will need to take an Adaptive Pause and implement remote learning.
Thank you for your attention to this important information related to in-person learning.
Dr. K
Dr. Melissa Kaczkowski
Superintendent
Glen Ellyn School District 41
Email: webmaster@d41.org
Website: www.d41.org
Location: 793 North Main Street, Glen Ellyn, IL, USA
Phone: 630.790.6400
Facebook: facebook.com/glenellynd41
Twitter: @glenellynd41