District 57 students return to their schools for first time in 10 months, as hybrid learning gets underway

More than 1,250 District 57 students headed back to their school buildings on Tuesday, Jan. 19, after 10 months away due to the pandemic.

The students, in preschool through eighth grade, began remote learning last March when COVID-19 was in its early stages. The remote learning model continued through the end of the year and resumed when the new school year started in late August.

But, district administrators have been preparing to bring students back as safely as possible as soon as the school board gave the OK. They also surveyed families to determine who preferred to stay with remote learning and who wanted to take part in a hybrid model (a combination of in-person class, lessons that are livestreamed and remote learning) - 57 percent chose the hybrid option, while 43 percent chose remote.

On Jan. 7, citing District 57's extensive planning and preparation, as well as the success of surrounding districts that have been able to sustain in-person learning, the board gave final approval for the district to bring hybrid students back on the 19th.

Superintendent Elaine Aumiller, says she is proud of students, staff, families, her administrative team and board members for ensuring that meaningful learning has continued, despite the prolonged time away from the classroom.

"Our community really came together and demonstrated resilience and strength while navigating this crisis,"she says, adding that a great deal of planning has gone into this next phase. "We are ready to move forward and bring many of our students back, with safety as our top priority."

Mary Gorr, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, stresses the importance of everyone doing their part to ensure the success of having students in the buildings. "Everyone must commit to taking part in daily symptom screenings, wearing masks, practicing social distancing, frequently washing hands and staying home if exposed to or showing symptoms of COVID-19," she says.

Gorr adds that the district has closely studied other districts that have already resumed in-person learning, and the ones that were forced to close their buildings had to do so because of people coming to school when they weren't feeling well or after being exposed. "It's critical that we all are vigilant about mitigating the risk of COVID-19 spreading, so we can keep everyone safe and sustain our hybrid learning model," she says.