D103 News

We are pleased to share that the isolation and quarantine period for students and staff members sick with COVID-19 or considered a close contact (as defined in the last chart of this notice) has been reduced to a minimum of five days.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced that they will move forward with the CDC guidance for EC-12 schools that halves the isolation and quarantine period. The Centers for Disease Control updated its guidance for EC-12 schools on January 6, 2022. As IDPH and ISBE update their guidelines and procedures in the coming days, we will adapt as necessary.

As a result, effective immediately, we will implement the updated guidance. Today’s 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. To further help prevent the spread of COVID we recommend upgrading masks to a 3-ply paper mask or a KN95 mask for your children instead of a cloth mask.

Staff and students who are currently impacted by a quarantine now have a revised return to school date. Please see the chart below to know when to send your child back to school.

Unvaccinated students and not boosted staff members who are close contacts are now required to quarantine for a minimum of 5 days or may participate in Test-to-Stay program if the contact occurred in school and if supplies are available. The following is a table with the revised return to school dates.

If you have any questions about your child’s return date, email the covid hotline at covidhotline@d103.org with your child’s name and school and someone will be in contact with you. Please do not call your child’s school. All inquiries should be directed to the covid hotline.

In addition, we want to pass along information from IDPH and CDC related to quarantine and recommended isolation periods. Below is summary information.

Quarantine means staying home for at least 5 days after exposure to someone diagnosed with COVID-19. This is because someone can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 but may not show symptoms. Even though someone may not show symptoms, they can still spread the virus.

Quarantine is different from isolation. Isolation is used by someone who has symptoms of COVID-19, or tests positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, even if they don’t have symptoms. Isolation helps prevent transmission of the virus by separating people infected with the virus from those who are not infected.

How does this new quarantine guidance impact staff and students if they test positive for COVID-19?

How does the new quarantine guidance impact staff and students who are considered close contacts to someone who tested positive with COVID-19?

Please read the Illinois Department of Public Health Summary and Action letter for more information about the recent quarantine changes.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us through the pandemic.

Sincerely,

Scott Warren, Ed.D

Superintendent of D103 Schools

The next Board of Education meeting will occur at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11. The notice and agenda can be found on the District 103 Board meeting website page. D103 board meetings are being held in-person and live-streamed each month on our YouTube Channel. Members of the community should attend the meeting at 111 Barclay Boulevard, Lincolnshire if they would like to make a public comment. The public can also contact the Board at board@d103.org.

D103 Calendar of Events

Email: ask103@d103.org
Website: www.d103.org
Location: 111 Barclay Blvd, Lincolnshire, IL 60069, USA
Phone: 847-295-4030
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SchoolDistrict103/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @district103