Pritzker closing all schools for rest of academic year; school leaders say 'learning will never stop'

Public and private schools serving students in kindergarten through grade 12 will remain physically closed for the remainder of the academic year to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday.

E-learning, now going on in many suburban school districts, will continue, officials said.

"I've said time and time again, our decisions must follow the science and the science says our students can't go back to their normal routine this school year," Pritzker said.

The decision comes as the state announced its biggest jump in cases of the respiratory disease, 1,842, which is linked to increased testing. Overall, 1,134 Illinoisans have died from COVID-19 and there are 27,575 infections statewide.

The seismic move will affect everyone from high school juniors and seniors with their eyes on college, to primary students who had been anticipating field days and end-of-year concerts.

"While the buildings are closed, learning will never stop," Downers Grove School District 58 Superintendent Kevin Russell told parents in an email message after the announcement. "While this is disappointing news, the district recognizes that the health and wellness of our students, staff, families and community members is the most important thing during this unprecedented time."

Barrington Area Unit District 220 Superintendent Brian Harris told parents "given the current public health crisis ... I'm sure this news does not come as a surprise. However, I share your disappointment, as I know many of you, including myself, were holding out hope that somehow our students and staff would be able return to our school buildings before the end of the year."

As for what the move means for report cards or grades, each school district is developing its own remote learning plan using Illinois State Board of Education guidelines.

"Our recommendation is that grades be used as an opportunity to give feedback, not a tool for compliance, and that no educational harm should come to any child," ISBE spokeswoman Jackie Matthews said. "Grades should only be used to increase a student's academic standing."

Anticipating Friday's news didn't make it any less sad for students, staff members and parents, Palatine Elementary District 15 Chief Communications Officer Morgan Delack said. Generally speaking, it's believed to be more difficult to replicate the classroom experience via virtual learning at the elementary level than at the high school level, she said, but she pointed to steps the district is taking to make distance learning more interactive.

The reality "is still emotionally difficult for all of us," Palatine Township Elementary District 15 Superintendent Laurie Heinz told parents in a message. "We deeply value the face-to-face connection that school provides."

Some school districts were already moving to reschedule graduations and proms.

Waubonsie Valley, Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley high schools, for instance, will all have graduation July 18 and proms will be held July 9 and 16. St. Charles District 303 rescheduled graduation to July 25 and canceled its proms.

Kevin Myers, superintendent of Mundelein High School District 120 and Mundelein Elementary District 75, said the district is exploring ways to hold events such as prom, eighth-grade promotion and graduation in June or July.

Elgin Area School District U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders said returning to school would have required providing masks for nearly 39,000 students, taking their temperature daily and getting students to comply with safety requirements. "We have a difficult time getting high school students and middle school students to wear IDs," he said.

And Sanders said districts might have to consider the possibility of not reopening schools or limiting attendance in the fall.

"We've already rethought public education to make this transition to distance learning," he said. "Maybe not all students need to be in a school at the same time."

Statewide school closures began in March when Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order through April 30 affecting schools, businesses and nonessential workers. Weeks later, the numbers of people dying from the respiratory disease and confirmed cases continue to grow, but Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said the state is experiencing a leveling off.

The puzzle for public health experts is how to reopen businesses and public areas without causing a second wave of COVID-19.

• Daily Herald staff writers Madhu Krishnamurthy, Susan Sarkauskas, Christopher Placek, Mick Zawislak and Eric Peterson contributed to this report.