Lyons Township District 204 transitioning to remote learning for 'a minimum of three weeks'

LA GRANGE – Lyons Township High School District 204 is transitioning to remote learning for a minimum of three weeks, citing the sharp increases in cases per day and COVID-19 test positivity rates as well as the impact on staffing and concern over the impact of upcoming holiday gatherings and travel plans.

The district, which went remote Nov. 16, made the announcement on its website.

Superintendent Tim Kilrea, in making the announcement, said the plan is to resume in-person learning "as soon as it is safe to do so." The district will update staff and families to the status of the learning plan for the remainder of the semester the week of Nov. 30.

The district since Oct. 19 has implemented a hybrid learning model, while closely following information from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Cook County Health Department and within the district's own school community.

According to the district's COVID-19 dashboard, the week of Nov. 9, there were 28 students and three staff members with positive cases, with 16 students and four staff "close contacts," defined as with or without a face covering who was within six feet of a confirmed case of COVID-19 for a cumulative total of at least 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the infectious period.

There were 29 students and nine staff who tested positive the week of Nov. 2, and five students and eight staff characterized as close contacts – sharp increases over previous weeks.

The District 204 zip codes' seven-day rolling average of cases per day is at 102.6, and the seven-day rolling average positivity rate at 13.06%, according to the Northwestern University COVID-19 dashboard.

"The sharp increases in cases per day, positivity rates, and number of new cases per 100,000 within LT’s zip codes, and the impact this has caused on staffing our classrooms and cleaning our facilities is concerning," Kilrea wrote. "In addition, we are also extremely concerned with upcoming expected travel plans and holiday gatherings and their impact on our school environment and community metrics related to the transmission of COVID-19."

The district will continue to provide limited in-person opportunities for high priority learners, as well as after-hours participation in extra-curricular and athletic programs.

"We appreciate the flexibility and patience demonstrated by our school community as we work to continue to engage students in learning while also striving to achieve our three primary goals during the COVID-19 pandemic – prioritize the health and safety of students and staff, support the social-emotional needs of students and basic wellness needs of families and maximize in-person learning when possible," Kilrea wrote.