updated August 16, 2021
COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Strategies for 2021-2022
Throughout the course of this summer, School District 21 has continued to closely monitor the ongoing COVID-19 Global Pandemic with the hope of providing a 2021-2022 school year experience closer to the experience pre-pandemic. The State of Illinois, Cook County, and the local CCSD21 area have all made great gains in defeating COVID. Indeed testing positivity percentages and levels of community spread continue to be at the lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic.
However, the DELTA variant, which spreads at 225% the rate of the original COVID-19 strain, is quickly becoming the predominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States. In early July, we have started to see early signs of rising incidences of infection and hospitalization of unvaccinated individuals in the Suburban Chicago area and across the State of Illinois. States with low rates of completed vaccination are again seeing major outbreaks and increasing hospitalizations. All of these facts reinforce the fact that as a community we are not done with our fight.
At the July 22, 2021 Board of Education meeting, School District 21 approved COVID-19 mitigation and management procedures for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. Throughout the pandemic, CCSD21 has closely adhered to medical and scientific data and recommendations from the CDC and IDPH. The procedures and mitigations in effect for the coming school year continue to align with such recommendations:
AVAILABILITY OF FACE MASKS & PPE
MASK USE
In accordance with CDC and IDPH guidance, all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to CCSD21 schools will be required to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. This includes all individuals, regardless of vaccine status, on school buses.
Individuals should choose an appropriate disposable mask or a reusable mask made from two or more layers of fabric. Masks are worn properly when they completely cover the nose and mouth. The mask should fit snugly under the chin and against the sides of one’s face.
In accordance with Illinois Department of Public Health guidance, neck/athletic gaiters, masks made from mesh, lace, or other sheer fabrics, or masks with vents or other holes are not acceptable.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
In accordance with CDC and IDPH recommendations, CCSD21 schools will continue to adhere to the 3-foot social distancing standard wherever possible. This is inclusive of classrooms, cafeteria spaces, gymnasiums, libraries, and other common areas.
SHIELD TESTING
CCSD21 will continue to test unvaccinated students on a weekly basis using the SHIELD Illinois Saliva PCR Testing program until at least December 31, 2021, or additional guidance from the CDC or the IDPH indicates it is appropriate to end COVID screening testing programs.
CONTACT TRACING
CCSD21 will continue to closely monitor and track student classroom seating assignments and movement of students in order to effectively contact trace any close contacts after a confirmed positive COVID case.
EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL
CCSD21 will continue to enforce close contact exclusion protocols aligned with the Cook County Department of Public Health. Guidance as of July 22, 2021 outlines:
Vaccinated students
Vaccinated students who are in close contact with a positive case will not be excluded from school if they do not have symptoms. If they do have symptoms, they will be excluded from school.
Unvaccinated students
Unvaccinated students who are in close contact with a positive case will be excluded from school. Unvaccinated close contacts may be eligible to participate in the Test-To-Stay protocol as defined by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
REMOTE LEARNING
At direction of the Illinois State Board of Education, remote learning will only be available to those students who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine or who are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and are excluded from school consistent with guidance or requirements from a local public health department or the Illinois Department of Public Health.
MONITORING STUDENT ILLNESS
While it is no longer recommended that parents complete a daily certification of health, CCSD21 faculty and staff will continue to closely monitor students in attendance for any symptoms or signs of a possible COVID-19 infection and appropriate isolation and exclusion protocols will be put in place. It is critical that families continue to keep any child who is displaying any COVID-like symptom home from school and work with the school’s health office staff to ensure the health and safety of all students in attendance.
HAND HYGIENE
All schools will continue to emphasize the importance of proper hand washing and the frequent use of hand sanitizer throughout the school day. Hand sanitizer stations installed last year will remain accessible throughout the school and hygiene time will be built into the day.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH SERVICE
CCSD21 will continue to socially distance students in cafeteria spaces at a minimum of 3 feet whenever possible. The district will be returning to a more traditional hot lunch program compared to the sack lunch program in place over the last year; however, each school shall
adopt specific procedures to ensure students are maintaining minimum social distancing while in food lines.
BUS SERVICE
Per federal direction all individuals, regardless of vaccine status, are required to wear masks on school buses. CCSD21 will continue to adhere to all recommendations and requirements
related to bus mitigations including, but not limited to, assigned seating, family clustered seating, rider capacity limits, etc.
STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS
CCSD21 will continue to cohort students both in the elementary and, initially, at the 6th grade level in middle school in order to better manage the movement of students and support contact tracing for students who are not yet eligible for vaccination. Students in 7th and 8th grade will return to a more traditional middle school day with access to lockers, locker rooms, and passing periods for classes.
SPORTS & EXTRA-CURRICULARS
CCSD21 schools will resume operation of all established school sports and extracurricular activities during the 2021-2022 school year. Additional mitigation measures may be implemented as recommended or required by the Cook County Department of Public Health or the Illinois Department of Public Health for those activities that carry a higher risk of COVID transmission.
AVAILABILITY OF FACE MASKS & PPE
CCSD21 will continue to maintain supplies of face masks and other PPE and will provide them to students, faculty, and staff upon request. Plexiglass dividers for desks continue to be available and will be provided at any students’ desk or in cafeteria spaces upon parent request.
CLEANING PROTOCOLS
District facilities will continue to utilize enhanced cleaning and sanitization efforts in line with current CDC recommendations, including more frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces.
VENTILATION & AIR FILTRATION
Since the onset of the global pandemic, CCSD21 has continued to upgrade its HVAC systems to ensure proper ventilation and fresh air exchange. During the summer of 2021, the district installed ionizing filtration systems for each school’s HVAC system. The presence of that ionizing filtration is projected to increase air purity from approximately 11% efficiency to 84% efficiency.