Consolidated High School District 230

2022-23 Response Plan - COVID-19 

August 2022 

D230 is prepared for a full opening for the 2022-23 school year. The D230 Administration will closely monitor the directions provided by the Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) / Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH). These directions may change throughout the year and D230 will continue to comply with mandates or guidelines, as necessary. 

Since March of 2020, COVID has led to significant disruptions in traditional school functions. D230 supports individuals taking appropriate measures to protect themselves and others from the spread of COVID. School should be a safe place in all regards, including respecting others and their personal choices. The provisions outlined below are rooted in maintaining uninterrupted school functions and limiting the impact COVID has on individual health which can disrupt appropriate school functioning, complicated by the continued lack of human resources in the areas of bus transportation, substitute staff, and critical areas such as food service and custodial staff. 

On August 12, 2022, our attorneys successfully obtained a Motion to Dismiss District 230’s involvement in the Austin Court Case. This case put our district in conflict between the plaintiffs and the Attorney General’s Office. Our motion was based on our argument that local control was warranted based on our ability to navigate the recommendations of the health departments as we have historically done. This moment has finally allowed us to move forward with planning for the 2022-23 school year.

The CCDPH and IDPH moved to a Green (Low), Yellow (Medium), and Orange (High) coded system based on three metrics. 

To reference the methodology the CDC uses to determine community ratings, please refer to the following website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html 

D230 will be using the following resource on a weekly basis to determine the level of COVID transmission within our community: https://ccdphcd.shinyapps.io/covid19/

Mask Protocol 

● The IDPH / ISBE recommends the following guidance in schools with regard to masking: 

■ Low (Green) - Support those who choose to continue to mask. 
■ Moderate (Yellow) - Persons who are immunocompromised, at high risk for severe disease or have household or social contacts at high risk for severe disease, should be encouraged to talk to their healthcare providers about whether they need to wear a mask. 
■ Orange (High) - Universal masking indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status, should be promoted. Persons who are immunocompromised should be encouraged to wear a mask or respirator that provides greater protection. 

● Masks will be optional while on D230 transportation. 

● D230 will continue to provide masks to students and staff upon request. 

■ IDs/lanyards are no longer required to be worn by students. Students, however, still must have IDs on their person while on school premises. 

● The CDC has changed its position on mandatory masking in health care settings, no longer recommending that it be universal. (September 2022) Masks will be available in the nurse’s area for convenience. 

As D230 remains in "Low" transmission, CDC guidance will be followed and masks are not required for students or staff (masking will remain optional for those who choose to do so). Unless another change occurs, we will return to masking if the Southcook region returns to "High" transmission.

Testing 

● D230 will provide for elective onsite testing for students and staff during regular school hours upon request or if symptoms develop. 

• • If the test is positive, individuals will be sent home and requested to follow the IDPH decision-making process listed below.

● D230 will not be participating in universal screening protocols. 

●  D230 will ask all individuals to follow IDPH/CCDPH guidelines as outlined by the IDPH Decision- Making Tree (link) 

Quarantine/Isolation Guidelines 

● D230 will continue with the following practices regarding Quarantine and Isolation: 

❖ D230 will not be conducting close contact tracing and, therefore, will not notify individuals who may have been within close proximity of a COVID-19 positive individual.
❖ Students and staff will be required to declare at the start of the school year that they will monitor symptoms and implement at-home testing as needed. 
❖ Families that knowingly send children to school with symptoms will receive a communication from our office, and we reserve the right to notify the local department of health of this probable case. 
❖ If individuals are quarantined by a doctor or CCDPH, D230 will support those quarantine orders. 
❖ If a student is required to quarantine or isolate, please contact the Nurse’s Office and provide relevant information regarding returning to school. D230, through federal grant funds, has a certified teacher at each campus responsible for working with students in this situation. 

Certification of Immunization 

● Students and staff are encouraged to share vaccination status with the district. In 2021-22, D230 had 80% of staff confirmed vaccination status and 39% of students. Having high vaccination rates allows D230 to maintain less restrictive mitigation measures to avoid outbreaks and school closures. 

● D230 will continue to support vaccination information and local events that provide free access to vaccinations and boosters. 

❖ Student vaccination cards can be uploaded in Skyward. 
❖ Staff vaccination cards can be uploaded in LaserFiche. 

Co-Curricular / Activities 

● Follow all IHSA, SWSC, or similar organizational expectations for performance and/or competition standards. This includes if masks are required to participate, D230 students must comply in order to be eligible to compete. 

○ Note - spectators will be required to adhere to safety mitigation measures if they apply to the event per IHSA, ISBE or IDPH/CCDPH guidelines. 

● Large group events like assemblies or presentations will take place when D230 is in Green or Yellow status. When in Orange, these presentations may be modified.

Hallways / Classrooms 

• Student seating will return to resemble classrooms prior to the pandemic. Students may wear masks during class based on personal preference or comfortability.  

• Although social distancing will not be ensured in every classroom, efforts may be made to create greater distance between students and / or staff in certain circumstances.  

• All classrooms have air ventilation that recirculates fresh air, on average, every 15-20 minutes.  

• Classrooms will maintain cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer as these practices maximize the safety of our learning spaces. 

Food Service/Lunches 

● Outdoor eating will be allowed throughout the fall and spring, weather permitting. 

● Cashless payment will remain throughout the school year. 

Field Trips 

● Students must comply with the policies and mitigations required by field trip locations. If students cannot or choose not to comply, they will be provided with an alternative assignment or opportunity. 

Cleaning Protocols 

● D230 will continue to use enhanced cleaning protocols including the use of hospital-grade, EPA registered disinfectants for all classroom and work surfaces. 

● Cleaning of high-touch surfaces will occur after hours. 

● Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes will be available in each classroom. 

● Electrostatic cleaning will be used in areas where a COVID-19 positive individual was located or upon request from building administration for precautionary measures. 

As we’ve realized from the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to be flexible and adjust when needed is important. We will continue to update students, staff, and parents via weekly messages throughout the school year.