District 54 cites COVID-19 cases, returns to remote learning
Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 will return to all remote learning on Monday due to growing community transmission and a rising number of cases among students and staff, the district announced Friday in a post on its website.
District 54 had moved from remote to a hybrid model on Oct. 19.
District officials said they were thrilled to have students back, but now felt a return to remote learning was required to provide adequate health and safety conditions for students.
The district cited Illinois Department of Public Health metrics for Cook County released Friday related to COVID-19 transmission, new cases, positivity rate, total cases and youth cases. The data indicated four of five metrics fell in the substantial community transmission category.
In addition, six schools have been placed on adaptive pause - Frost, ELC, Aldrin, Link, Mead and Hanover - due to rising COVID-19 cases and large numbers of staff and student in quarantines.
The district recorded 15 student positive COVID-19 cases and 16 staff positive COVID-19 cases last week and 11 student and 9 staff cases the prior week, positive cases. Three weeks ago, there were only two student and six staff positive cases.
On Friday, 781 hybrid learners and 158 staff members were out on quarantine. At the same time, substitute teachers have been reluctant to take jobs, creating a staffing challenge, the district said in its posting.
The district will consider a possible return to in-person learning beginning Nov. 30, and asked people to take recommended precautions to prevent spread in hopes of making that possible.
More information is on the district's website at sd54.org/reopeningd54.