November 01, 2024
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DeKalb District 428 delays in-person start for elementary students; teachers will have option to work remotely

County positivity rate must drop below 8% in order to return

By Eddie Carifio

Founders Elementary custodians Trevor Engstrom (left) and Roberto Herrera move a table into a storage bin Wednesday morning at the school in DeKalb. Many furniture items are being removed from classrooms to help facilitate social distancing. District 428 schools are continuing to prepare for the return of students even though the year will begin with remote learning. (Mark Busch)

DeKalb School District 428 will not return to the classroom on Nov. 30, the district announced in a letter to parents Friday morning, and will not be able to return until the county positivity rate drops below 8%.

Currently, the seven-day rolling positivity rate in DeKalb is 14.3% and has risen every day since Nov. 2.

Elementary students were scheduled to return to school as part of a hybrid plan. Kindergarten through second graders were scheduled to go back Oct. 26 but were delayed. The seven-day rolling positivity rate on Oct. 26 was 10.1%.

Teachers will also be given the option to work from home for a three-week period beginning Monday.

"As COVID-19 positivity rates continue to surge across Illinois and DeKalb County, we have received suggestions from IDPH to give staff an option to work from home, as a much as practical, for a three week period," said the letter, signed by interim superintendents Griff Powell and Ray Lechner. "Beginning Monday, November 16th, staff will be given the option to work remotely."

The letter stated the district is reviewing its plans and will have an update sent to families next week.

Eddie Carifio

Eddie Carifio

Daily Chronicle sports editor since 2014. NIU beat writer. DeKalb, Sycamore, Kaneland, Genoa-Kingston, Indian Creek, Hiawatha and Hinckley-Big Rock coverage as well.