By Chris Fox
For The Elmhurst Independent
At the regular meeting of the Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held on Oct. 27, District 205 Superintendent David Moyer delivered a presentation related to COVID-19 and the district’s recent move to fully remote instruction. Moyer said that the district adheres to metrics and guidance provided by the DuPage County Health Department. He said the district began welcoming students back to buildings for in-person learning on Sept. 2, knowing that it was possible there would be a return to fully remote instruction. Moyer said he understands the desire for in-person instruction. He added that according to the health department’s metrics, the county was in the Substantial Community Transmission Level in four of six categories.
The district recognizes the importance of the mental health and well-being of its students and is working on returning to in-person instruction, Moyer said. He said the district is exploring the possibility of incorporating COVID-19 related metrics of Elmhurst, along with the metrics of all of DuPage County, as it considers a return to some in-person instruction.
He said that since August, there have been 68 positive cases of COVID-19; that 55 of those cases involved students, while 13 involved staff members. He said there were no known cases of transmission within district schools, and he credited the district’s safety protocols for preventing a spread of the virus. He added that the district cannot control what people do outside of school.
Moyer made special mention that the virus spreads when people don’t take proper precautions. He encouraged members of the district community to wear a mask, wash their hands, adhere to social-distancing guidelines and to avoid large crowds.
At the meeting, Board member Christopher Kocinski said he was in favor of integrating local metrics along with county metrics as the district considered a return to in-person learning. He also said he wasn’t convinced that operating without any students in buildings was the right decision. He said he understood the need for operating at reduced building capacity, but he said there are students with significant needs who count on the district.
Trautmann asked if the district could re-open its buildings to students with special needs. Moyer noted that some students have exemptions from wearing masks, and virtually all of those students would be riding buses to and from school. He also said that the district is facing significant staffing challenges.
Moyer said during the Oct. 27 meeting that the district was working with its attorneys and health experts to return to some in-person learning as soon as Nov. 5. But in an Oct. 30 message to District 205 families and staff, Moyer said fully remote instruction would continue through at least Nov. 11. He said the district would send another message on Nov. 9, indicating if a return to hybrid learning—featuring some in-person instruction—could begin by Nov. 12.
Moyer’s Oct. 30 message also noted that the district has received guidance from its insurer to follow the direction of the governor and the Illinois Department of Public Health to categorize basketball as a high-risk sport, and to prohibit basketball competition this winter. The Illinois High School Association recently announced it would move ahead with basketball as a winter sport.
