It’s back to remote learning this week for D. 210 in New Lenox

Students at Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 will be studying like it’s 2020 this week as they temporarily return to remote learning.

Remote learning will begin Tuesday and continue through Friday.

A note from Superintendent R. Scott Tingley on District 210′s Facebook page Monday said the decision was based on the “recent spike in COVID-19 cases causing staffing shortages across the district.”

The staffing shortages are affecting both teachers and bus drivers, Jen Beshansky, director of community relations for District 210, said in an email on Monday.

“We will continue to evaluate the situation and inform our stakeholders as quickly and efficiently as we can if anything changes,” Beshansky said in the email.

The superintendent’s note also reassured families that “this decision is only a temporary disruption to in-person learning.”

A note to parents on the District 201 website said students will follow the district’s emergency e-learning plan, which also includes live instruction via WebEx. Buildings were open on Monday for students to gather any needed supplies for their lockers. Teachers, coaches and sponsors were to contact their students with specific instructions, the note said.

Students at all 31 schools at Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 returned to school on Monday.

Tom Hernandez, director of community relations for District 202, said he can’t really “quantify” the staffing situation except that enough staff were present for in-person learning.

He said insufficient teachers in the classroom would be a major consideration – and not the only consideration – for returning temporarily to remote learning.

“But right now, at 11:45 a.m. that is not the case,” Hernandez said Monday.

Parents who are uncomfortable about sending their children back to the classroom can make arrangements with the school to collect their children’s work from the school, he said.

“But we’re not doing spot remote learning,” Hernandez said.

Joliet Township District 204 does not resume classes until Jan. 10 due to winter break and teacher institutes, according to the district calendar. Kristine Schlismann, director of community and alumni relations for District 204, said in an email on Monday that the staffing situation is assessed daily.

In addition, the district is offering free COVID-19 SHIELD testing to all staff members on Tuesday.

“Any staff member who is concerned about [COVID-19] exposure over break can come in to be tested regardless of vaccination status,” Schlismann said in the email.

Staff who tested positive over break should notify the district’s director of human resources, Schlismann said. JTHS also offers free SHIELD COVID testing to all students. Parents can opt their students in by using a form on the district’s website, she said.

Sandy Zalewski, director for communications and development for District 86, said District 86 schools are closed until Wednesday as part of the winter break. As of Monday, the district did not have any staffing shortages and in-person learning was expected to resume on schedule.

Zalewski said District 86 had no plans in place to accommodate families not comfortable with sending their children back to school.

“The state wants kids in school,” Zalewski said. “So we don’t have a remote program available for parents.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health said in its school guidance page that the “majority of students need full-time in-person access to their teachers and support network at school to stay engaged, to learn effectively, and to maintain social-emotional wellness.”