U-46 to pause hybrid classes, return to fully remote learning
Elgin Area School District U-46 will halt in-person classes and switch to fully remote learning starting Monday through Dec. 4, after guidance from local health officials.
The change will come after merely two weeks of hybrid learning for early grades. The district started in-person hybrid classes for 4,400 students in prekindergarten through second grade on Nov. 10. Select groups of middle and high school students in specialized programs began in-person classes this week while third- through sixth-graders were supposed to move to a hybrid schedule on Dec. 1.
The Kane County Health Department on Monday notified U-46 leaders that the district must take an "adaptive pause."
"They believe we will be OK continuing with our current plans for this week, then strictly offering distance learning for all students effective Nov. 23," Superintendent Tony Sanders told the school board Monday. "That means that no in-person instruction or extracurricular activities will occur during that time period. Grades three through six that were supposed to start back on (Dec. 1) will remain in distance learning until the adaptive pause is concluded. Teaching assignments for grades three through six will remain the same for now. However, we are proceeding forward with professional development for those teachers this Thursday and Friday as we had planned to do so."
Sanders said Kane County superintendents will meet with health officials on Nov. 30 and Dec. 2 to review COVID-19 case numbers and get further guidance before considering extending the hiatus from in-person lessons.
"While we are on this adaptive pause, all administrators and all 12-month staff members will need to continue working from our buildings to support teachers who may choose to teach from their classrooms," Sanders said.
Elgin Teachers Association President Barb Bettis said she had planned at Monday's meeting to share the concerns she had been hearing from many of the 2,700 teachers union members.
"We are still committed to continuing to work with the district administration to help ensure its ultimate implementation is safe, successful, and sustainable," Bettis said. "We are grateful for this pause so that we can address the areas of concern that currently exist in our system."
Some school board members acknowledged they have been receiving emails and comments from parents who are struggling with remote learning.
"We are doing distance learning in our house and I get how miserable it is," school board member Kane Thommes said. "If it gets beyond just rotten, ask for help. There are people who can help."