District 90 COVID-19 Update from Superintendent Ed Condon

Dear District 90 Families, Faculty, and Staff,

As the situation regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 evolves with new developments occurring daily, please be assured that the health and safety of our students, families, and staff remains our top priority.  The risk level in River Forest presently remains low, and we have no current plans to close schools at this time.  However, this message is intended to provide an update on recent developments, including District 90’s preparedness plans for the continuation of learning, should we be guided to close schools. Current information on the following topics will be addressed in this communication:

• Initial information about implementing e-Learning (remote instruction) for students
• Postponement of District events and activities
• Recommendations regarding international travel

The District continues to monitor the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCPH), and the Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE) closely. Please keep in mind that the current situation is extremely fluid, and guidance from health officials may change quickly.

E-Learning

As part of the District’s preparation for remote learning, on Friday, March 13, students in grades K-4 will begin taking home their school-issued iPads each day - as students in grades 5-8 already do on a daily basis. This step is intended to accommodate ongoing student learning outside of the school environment in case District 90 schools need to close. The following documents will be sent home tomorrow to accompany K-4 students devices:

• Guidelines for the acceptable use of iPad devices
• Requirements for the care and transportation of the devices
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Lending Agreement (please sign and return it to your student’s teacher)

Parents of K-4 students are asked to please read these documents in detail and follow the instructions with each document. Please inform your student’s teacher if Internet access is not available to your family at home, or if you have specific questions about your child’s circumstances.

District administrators have developed and refined an e-Learning plan that ensures continuity of instruction and appropriate instructional activities for students, in case of school closure. Our faculty and staff members will be receiving professional development regarding the District’s e-Learning initiative today. Beginning on Friday, students will be provided guidance from classroom teachers about expectations pertaining to remote learning with additional “refreshers” in the future, as needed.

We understand and recognize that asking learners in grades K-4 to take their devices home and return with them to school on a daily basis represents an unexpected responsibility. We ask that you please assist your students with this charge.  Students in grades 5-8 already have experience in transporting iPads between home and school successfully. For both elementary and middle school students, it is essential that they remember to bring their iPads and essential learning materials home each evening so that they have them available for use if necessary. Additional information about the specifics of the e-Learning plan and recommendations about how families can support their students will be provided in a separate communication tomorrow.

Postponement of District Events and Activities

District 90 is postponing all large-scale evening events and activities tonight and through the weekend. This decision has been made in accordance with Oak Park and River Forest High School (District 200), Oak Park School District 97, the Village of River Forest, and other local entities. The following events and activities will not take place as scheduled, and will be postponed:

• Jazz Concert at Roosevelt (Thursday, March 12)
• Science Fair at Willard (Thursday, March 12)
• Mollyball Community Event at Roosevelt (Friday, March 13)
• Lincoln Auction at Doc Ryan’s (Friday, March 13) - Online bidding will continue until Sunday, March 15, at 8 p.m.
• Young Authors Conference at Lincoln (Saturday, March 14)

Decisions will be forthcoming about when to reschedule these activities. Decisions about activities scheduled for next week will be made in partnership with the organizations listed above on Monday, March 16. However, it is highly likely that large-scale events planned for next week in the evening hours, or those involving groups of outside visitors during the school day, will also be postponed.

Travel

As we approach the upcoming Spring Break, families may have made plans for international or domestic travel. If you are traveling overseas, the District recommends that you monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for guidance about any restrictions upon returning to the United States. This suggestion is particularly important for visits to any country under Level 3 Security Alerts, in which individuals are subject to 14-day exclusion periods before returning to schools. Current countries under Level 3 Security Alerts are China, Iran, South Korea, and up to 30 countries in Europe. The District recommends that families closely monitor the CDC website should additional countries be added, since D90 will follow all CDC guidance about required exclusion periods.

If you have additional questions concerning this situation, please use the chart below to contact the appropriate individuals for your inquiries:

Questions About	Contact
Instructional Activities	Classroom Teacher
Classroom level e-Learning details	Student’s teacher, school principal, or assistant principal
The D90 e-Learning Plan or instructional technology issues	School principal, assistant principal, or appropriate District administrator

As the situation involving COVID-19 continues to unfold, the District is committed to the safety of our students and staff, as well as the continuation of our teaching and learning responsibilities. There are many details to navigate as we prepare for the potential possibility of closing school. We will continue to update you as new information becomes available. Your patience and understanding during these circumstances are deeply appreciated.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our students, families, and schools. Please stay well.

Respectfully,

Ed Condon, Ph.D.
Superintendent