Round Lake-area schools will start the year remotely

Students and staff in Round Lake Area Unit District 116 will start the new school year remotely, district officials announced Thursday.

Superintendent Donn Mendoza said uncertainty about the district's ability to implement safety protocols required by state agencies was the primary factor in the decision.

“As the superintendent, I am not confident in our ability to effectively and consistently implement all of the evolving safety guidance that is required by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education at a level that would ensure high levels of safety for students, staff and families,” Mendoza said in the statement.

Full details of the plan will be made available no later than July 31, and the District 116 board will discuss the plan at a special virtual meeting scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3. The district plans to reassess potential plans for in-person learning Oct. 1.

There are some 7,300 students enrolled in District 116.

Earlier this week, district officials said they were considering three options for starting the new school year -- resuming in-person learning, remote learning only, or a blended model. According to surveys provided by the district, 72% of parents supported full-time online instruction for the fall as well as a blended model.

Mendoza cited the contagious nature of COVID-19 for the decision, saying it is difficult to keep adults and children 6 feet apart for hours at a time, as the state department of public health cites that the virus can spread to someone in as little as 15 minutes.

The lack of manpower for contact tracing and inability to guarantee adequate monitoring for staff or students who need to be quarantined played a role in this decision as well, he said.

As 74% of the students in the district are from lower income households, plans are in place for remote learning for students without Internet access. Mendoza said every student in the district will have an iPad.

Several full remote learning model resources will be developed for staff, students, and parents/guardians, including ESL and special education assistance, he said.

“We know a remote model is not the ideal situation for anyone here, but implementing this will provide consistency and stability,” Mendoza said.