Dear District 58 Community,
The Health Department has reported that as of Thursday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m., there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in DuPage County or District 58.
Even so, with the number of cases across the state and region increasing and as a result of our communications and coordination with the DuPage County Health Department, District 58 is taking proactive social distancing measures to help reduce the spread of illness throughout our community.
At this time, the Health Department recommends that District 58 not close schools. However, District 58 is canceling all activities that include non-essential visitors who are not our students and staff until further notice.
For example, the following activities are canceled:
- Athletic practices or competitions
- School trips (local and domestic)
- Field trips
- Outside speakers
- Outside facility rentals
- School activities organized by an outside group
- School activities that involve only District 58 students and staff will continue. This includes Champions.
If we do have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in District 58, we will close school for at least 24 hours. At that point, the Health Department will help us assess the situation, evaluate our cleaning and disinfection practices, and reduce the risk and vulnerability to students. We would then work on a plan to move forward. Until then, school will remain open and we will continue our cleaning and disinfection practices as directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We will revisit these protocols as necessary. If District 58 schools close, the District plans to initially use its allotted emergency days. However, District 58 central administrators and principals are working collaboratively with the DuPage Regional Office of Education and other local school districts to develop an emergency e-learning plan to enact in the event that schools be closed for an elongated period of time. We estimate that it will take approximately two weeks to develop an actionable emergency e-learning plan. If schools must be closed before then, District 58 will continue to use emergency days until we feel prepared to transition to e-learning.
As we receive new information, we will send it to you as soon as we can. Visit our COVID-19 resource webpage here, where we will post all messages that we issue and other resources.
These are unprecedented times. We request your flexibility, patience and understanding as we work through this situation together.
Thank you,
Downers Grove Grade School District 58