District 158 reveals options for reopening schools

Huntley Community School District 158 is offering flexible learning options for students when schools reopen next month.

All students can opt-in for remote learning, which will closely mirror the in-person classroom experience. Students in prekindergarten through sixth grade may opt for fully in-person classes on a traditional schedule. Seventh- through 12th-graders may choose a hybrid option blending in-person and remote learning. Only half the students will be in school at any given time.

"Our plan substantially reflects the mandatory guidance issued to school districts by the Illinois State Board of Education as well as months of work by hundreds of staff members who participated in planning groups and input from thousands of families and staff members who completed surveys," Superintendent Scott Rowe wrote in a note to families.

A remote learning day for elementary students will involve spending five hours in class with a combination of real-time instruction and learning activities. Students will have instructional blocks for literacy, math and other topics with breaks for snacks, lunch and playtime. Prekindergarten students will spend two hours engaged in different learning activities for literacy, math, fine motor and social-emotional skills with breaks.

Middle schoolers attending in-person likely won't remain in the same classrooms and have teachers rotate. Officials plan to put precautions in place to minimize student contact during passing periods.

High school students attending in-person must remain in class when in the building so as to limit student movement as much as possible. All students will have the opportunity to participate in after-school activities and sports each day no matter which option they choose, district documents show.

Families must make a selection for their children by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. Students for whom responses are not received automatically will be assigned to the in-person or hybrid model according to their grade level and bus service.

Families of students who won't require transportation to or from school are asked to "opt out" of their bus assignment to allow the district to keep usage within the state-mandated 50-person capacity.

To view the full reopening plan, visit district158.org.