While there are consistent guidelines across the district, all school principals will communicate building-specific arrival and dismissal procedures with their families.

To avoid congestion, students will be required to enter/exit the building at a certain door established by grade level. All students are required to have a daily self-certification form completed prior to arriving to school. Staff will confirm this has been completed. If not, student temperatures will be checked with a hand-held device.

Parent/guardians who drop students off will not be allowed to enter the building with them. Individuals must be masked and remain physically distant.

Sanitizer stations and extra masks will be available at each entry.

Middle and magnet school students may enter the building beginning at 7:45am. Elementary students may enter the building beginning at 8:50am. "Grab and Go" breakfast may be picked up and eaten during this time.

Students should bring with them a bookbag to carry any necessary materials back and forth to school, their fully charged district-issued device, a spare mask, and reusable water bottle. Students should also bring with them any items as requested by their educator.

In addition, students will likely be eating outdoors while the weather remains nice and may be in the sun. Applying sunscreen and hats to block the sun are a good idea, as needed.

Contact tracing is used by health departments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In general, contact tracing involves identifying people who have a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 (cases) and people who they came in contact with (close contacts) and working with them to interrupt disease spread. This includes asking people with COVID-19 to isolate and their contacts to quarantine at home voluntarily.

According to new guidelines adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in January 2022, a "close contact” is an individual who was within 6 feet of a confirmed or probable case for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period.

Those not included under this category are:

• A student who was within 3 to 6 feet in a classroom setting for least 15 minutes with a confirmed or probable student case if both case and contact were consistently masked for the entire exposure period.
• Students and staff aged 18 years and older who have received all recommended COVID19 vaccine doses, including boosters for any individual who completed the PfizerBioNTech primary vaccination series beyond the past five months, the Moderna primary vaccination series beyond the past five months, or Johnson & Johnson Janssen’s (J&J) primary vaccination dose beyond the past two months (and additional primary doses for some immunocompromised people).
• A student aged 5-17 years who completed the primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine.
• An individual on school transportation within 3 to 6 feet if both the confirmed case and the exposed individual were consistently and correctly masked during the entire exposure period and windows were opened (front, middle, and back, or overhead) to allow for good ventilation or HEPA filters were in use during transit.
• An individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days from date of exposure.
• An individual who is solely exposed to a confirmed case while outdoors; however, schools may coordinate with their local health department to determine the necessity of exclusion for higher-risk outdoor exposures.

Per Health Department guidelines, close contact letters, including instructions, are issued to all those who meet the definition of being considered a close contact. Close contacts are determined through the contact tracing process. General notification letters are sent to the parents/guardians of children within the classroom or on the school bus. Notifications will never reveal the identity of the individual.

To promote continued transparency, a COVID-19 Dashboard is available on the District 65 website that reports on positive COVID-19 cases (as reported to District 65) and quarantines of staff and students by building. The Dashboard is updated weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Quarantines and lengths are determined by the local health departments in alignment with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidance.

CDC Recommended Quarantine Period for Close Contacts to Someone with COVID-19

¹Children who have received the primary vaccination series and are not eligible for booster doses after 5 months for Pfizer, 6 months for Moderna, or 2 months for Johnson and Johnson should not be excluded from school after close contact unless they develop symptoms and test positive for COVID-19. If masks need to be removed (e.g., for lunch), ensure 6 feet of physical distancing until 10 days after exposure.

Parents/guardians should contact their child’s health clerk immediately. Staff members should email hrsafetyipass@district65.net. Reporting this information right away will support more efficient contact tracing.

In order to maximize safety across our community, proof of COVID-19 vaccination should be submitted to District 65. This is especially important for newly vaccinated students. Copies of vaccine cards should be submitted to the school health clerk (preferably electronically or delivered in-person) and will be securely stored along with other student health records. If possible, name the file with child's last name first name and DOB.

As a reminder, individuals who are up-to-date on vaccines (students who have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and adults who received the primary vaccine and booster when eligible) are not required to quarantine if they are symptom-free and exposed to COVID-19 (unless they receive a positive COVID-19 test).

Under the new guidance released by the CDC in January 2022 (also adopted by IDPH and Evanston and Skokie health departments), any staff or student who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must remain home for a minimum of five days and a maximum of 10 days after the first day of symptoms or the date of a positive test result. 

Those who are asymptomatic will be allowed to return to school after the five-day period, and those who experienced symptoms can also return if they are fever-free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours, diarrhea/vomiting have ceased for 24 hours, and other symptoms have improved. Individuals must continue to wear a mask for five days at school, home, and in the community and must stay at least six feet apart from others when eating.

District 65 will continue to offer remote learning for students who must quarantine as directed by the local health department. This option will remain available to them during the length of their quarantine period. Information about Quarantine Remote Classrooms is available on the District 65 website.

The District 65 Health Services and Human Resources Departments will support this process in conjunction with school principals and health clerks.

As recommended by the CDC, school districts will follow guidance from the local health departments and they will make the final determination on who needs to quarantine:

• Evanston Health and Human Services
• Skokie Health Department (Bessie Rhodes and Walker)

With the increase in COVID-19 cases and concerns over more contagious variants, we are strongly encouraging all individuals to participate in weekly PCR testing as a preventative measure.

Testing provides an additional layer of protection by helping to proactively identify and isolate positive cases, effectively lowering the potential for spread in schools.

We believe that participation, especially by unvaccinated individuals, will help maximize the safety of our school communities and maintain the continuity of in-person instruction with less disruption for students, families, and educators.

District 65 is partnering with SHIELD Illinois through the University of Illinois to conduct testing at each District 65 school. This is a non-invasive saliva (spit) PCR test. More information is available at https://www.uillinois.edu/shield.

No. Testing is optional but is highly encouraged, especially for those who are unvaccinated.

Parents/guardians MUST opt their child OUT of testing. Parents/guardians can opt-in or out of testing at any time. To opt your child out of testing, please complete the SHIELD Opt-Out Form (English / Spanish). By sending a child to school without opting out of the testing program (in writing), parents/guardians are consenting to their child to be tested for COVID-19 and to have the results and related information shared with District 65 health services staff and local health departments consistent with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidance and the Illinois Control of Communicable Disease Code.

Parents/guardians can opt-in or out of testing at any time. To opt your child out of testing, please complete the SHIELD Opt-Out Form (English / Spanish).

Parents/guardians who choose to opt their child out of testing can send the completed form to covid19testing@district65.net or can drop off at their child’s school.

On August 23, the School Board passed a resolution requiring COVID-19 vaccination of all District 65 employees, vendors, and outside staff supporting before and afterschool programming in D65 facilities. This is also a requirement of an Executive Order signed by Governor Pritzker. Staff who do not have an approved religious or medical exemption will be required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing through the SHIELD program. Fully vaccinated staff are not required to participate; however, they are encouraged to do so especially in times of high community transmission.

Testing is highly accurate at 97% sensitivity and 99% specificity with very few false positives.

No, absolutely no genetic material is kept or retained for any reason.

Parents/guardians/staff will be contacted via phone of a positive result within 24 hours.

Results and related information shared with District 65 health services staff and local health departments consistent with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidance and the Illinois Control of Communicable Disease Code.

Testing will be held during school hours on a designated day each week. Students and staff will be tested once per week. If there is a need for additional testing, a parent/guardian or staff member can contact their school health staff or the Health Services Department to see if they can be tested at another District 65 location. Please note that it is not possible to make-up SHIELD testing within a building due to a holiday or non-attendance day.

View Testing Schedule

View current SHIELD Testing Schedule

Please note that the testing schedule is subject to change.

SHIELD Testing cannot be rescheduled within a building due to a holiday or non-attendance day.

If test results are positive, the child must not come to school and staff must not report to work. Any other siblings that are not fully vaccinated should also remain at home. You may not send your child back to school without a note of clearance from the Health Department.

Tests sometimes produce incorrect negative results called “false negatives” in people who have COVID-19. If your child tests negative but has symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have concerns about your child’s exposure to COVID-19, you should call your child’s doctor, keep them home, and notify the school health clerk. Staff members should follow the same procedure.

Under the new guidance released by the CDC in January 2022 (also adopted by IDPH and Evanston and Skokie health departments), any staff or student who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must remain home for a minimum of five days and a maximum of 10 days after the first day of symptoms or the date of a positive test result. 

Those who are asymptomatic will be allowed to return to school after the five-day period, and those who experienced symptoms can also return if they are fever-free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours, diarrhea/vomiting have ceased for 24 hours, and other symptoms have improved. Individuals must continue to wear a mask for five days at school, home, and in the community and must stay at least six feet apart from others when eating.

District 65 will continue to offer remote learning for students who must quarantine as directed by the local health department. This option will remain available to them during the length of their quarantine period. Information about Quarantine Remote Classrooms is available on the District 65 website.

Parents/guardians or participating staff members are only notified of positive results. Notifications will not be sent for negative results. No news is good news!

No, testing is free for all participating students and staff members and there is no cost to the district for operating the program.

Yes, schools are strongly encouraged to use outdoor spaces for learning and during meal time to the greatest extent possible and as weather permits. This might include gathering in an open, grassy space where physical distancing can be enforced or the placement of tables and chairs outdoors for mealtimes. 

Yes, however, tents are not necessary to facilitate outdoor learning or meals. Tents are generally used for protection in the event of inclement weather and in the best interest of their safety, we do not want our students or staff outdoors during any type of inclement weather. We recognize that in the late days of summer that sun may be an issue and schools are working to find shady options to the best of their ability. Students are encouraged to bring hats and wear sunscreen as needed.

In accordance with CDC and IDPH guidelines, students should remain at least three feet apart at all times. District 65 schools will make every effort to utilize physical distancing to the greatest extent possible within classrooms and communal spaces. All facilities can accommodate students at least the required three feet distance, in some spaces distancing may be greater.

District 65 staff will make every effort to enforce physical distancing while being cognizant of the fact that we serve young children and consistent enforcement may not be possible in every situation. This is why consistent and correct wearing of masks and District 65's layered mitigation approach is so important.

Student desks will be placed three feet apart. Over the summer, District 65 purchased 3,000 new desks to replace tables and to better accommodate physical distancing for students.

Signage will be placed throughout the hallways to remind students and staff to physically distance, these include floor markers and directionals for traffic flow.

District 65 is following standards set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois State Board of Education, and the American Society of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration. During the 2020-21 school year, District 65 conducted a walkthrough to look at HVAC systems in all buildings in collaboration with independent HVAC contractors.

D65 HVAC systems were configured to allow for the highest possible MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERVs, report a filter's ability to capture airborne particles).

• All D65 systems will operate at a MERV 8 or MERV 10 rating which is considered acceptable by all standards.
• Given the age of D65 buildings, these are the highest possible ratings that our HVAC systems can handle.
• HEPA air filters were installed in shared indoor spaces identified by the independent HVAC contractors as having limited air flow. These filters are designed to capture 99.9% of airborne particles.

Additional steps taken regarding ventilation can be viewed in our 21-22 Health and Safety Guidance.

To help ensure a safe and healthy environment for all individuals, cleaning and sanitizing will remain a priority among the District 65 team. This includes increased daily cleaning protocols in effect at all facilities, in accordance with CDC and OSHA guidelines. These efforts will be facilitated through cleaning checklists used by custodial and maintenance staff. Custodial staff will pay special attention to high touch surfaces including door knobs and handles, handrails, elevator buttons, classroom desks and chairs, sinks, countertops, light switches, etc.

Each building has two electrostatic sanitizing machines with staff trained to use them. These will be used daily to sanitize restrooms, carpets, and other surfaces.

Supplies will be provided to all staff so that cleaning and sanitizing can occur in classrooms as needed.

Students are encouraged to wash their hands as they are able throughout the day. Hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) will be available to all students in classrooms and common areas. Head custodians will ensure supply is replenished as needed.

Yes. Lockers and locker rooms will be used and students should avoid congregating.

Building staff may put procedures in place to reduce congestion when students are visiting their lockers (such as building schedules).

Water fountains have been decommissioned and will be unavailable for drinking. Bottler fillers are available throughout every D65 school. Students are encouraged to bring a clean, reusable water bottle to school with them daily.

Yes.

All staff, students, and visitors entering the building are required to complete a daily health self certification form prior to entering the building. The purpose is to monitor symptoms of illness and potential exposure to COVID-19. This information is helpful in working to ensure that sick individuals remain home and also supports the contact tracing process.

The process is simple and takes two minutes or less per individual (instructions in English and Spanish). Take your temperature (if a staff member) or that of your child (if a parent/caregiver), complete the brief form, and follow the instructions based on the color badge you receive.

Health Self Certifications are completed through the web-based system, CrisisGo Safety iPass. They can be completed via web browser or by downloading the free mobile app to your smartphone. Parents/guardians who do not have internet access or a smart device, please contact your child’s school.

Yes, parents/guardians and staff can choose from a variety of languages.

Each morning at 6am, an email reminder with a link to the form will be sent to the primary email provided at the time of student registration. If the self-certification is not completed within 30 minutes, an email will also be sent to the secondary email on file, if one was provided. This is a default feature that cannot be modified at this time. 

Individuals can complete the process by clicking on the link in the email.

The CrisisGo health self certification system has been configured for parents/guardians to be directly connected to their child(ren). Parents/guardians will have access to report only on behalf of their children and will automatically receive daily email reminders to complete.

Parents/guardians can choose to download the CrisisGo App.

The District has run into some data challenges with the implementation of our new student information system, PowerSchool. Any inaccuracies should be reported to parents@district65.net.

It’s important that we all do our part in helping to keep our school communities safe. We ask that you work to develop a morning routine within your household for completing this process. If the health self certification is not completed, students will have their temperature checked upon arrival to school. If they are not displaying symptoms of illness and have a temperature less than 100.4 they will be sent to class otherwise they will be escorted to a waiting room for a parent/guardian to pick up.

Health clerks or other school personnel will contact parents/guardians if the form is not completed to further discuss.

No, they are not required. However, individuals entering District 65 facilities or participating in school events should refrain from doing so if they feel any symptoms of illness or believe they were possibly exposed to COVID-19.

School administrators and educators should direct questions to AskHr@district65.net. Families should send questions to parents@district65.net.

Educators will regularly assess students formally and informally to understand what students know and need support with including unfinished learning, which is defined as learning that is from an early grade level. Educators will build in scaffolds for students when needed to address this learning and allow them to access and understand grade level learning. It may take place in the form of the following:

• additional small group session;
• individual work with an educator;
• a revised sequence of lessons for a whole class or a small group; and or,
• additional practice opportunities with feedback.  

Educators provide opportunities for students who may have already mastered grade level standards by differentiating learning tasks.  This may include students accessing a different variety of source materials for an activity or regular practice including tiered tasks and leveled texts.  Generally, educators follow Tomlinson’s approaches to differentiation.  A brief overview is provided here.  

Technology will be used as a tool to support grade level and differentiated learning for students when and where appropriate. Use will vary by content and grade and will consider screen time recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for different age groups. 

Technology devices are used as one of our tools for learning. In our 21st century classrooms we view them similar to our other learning tools like our classroom libraries, writing, tools, building supplies, etc. Educators are planning and will guide interactive standards aligned learning experiences and will create differentiated learning experiences. There are times and places in whole class, small group, or individualized learning that technology is the right tool to support building of understanding, practicing of learning and extending learning.  The Triple E framework captures the big ideas for when and why we use technology. 

The research-based ASC tutoring model the District is implementing demands that tutoring sessions occur during the school day. When students are in school, their attendance rates, attention, energy, and capacity to learn is much higher than when tutoring sessions are held after school.

Elementary students will participate in tutoring during the grade-level acceleration blocks, which means they will not have to miss a special class to participate in tutoring.

Tutoring will be provided for students in areas that are not specifically addressed by an IEP. IEP services with a certified educator will be provided in the content areas addressed by the IEP.

Schools are encouraged to continue using outdoor spaces for meal times as long as weather allows.

Yes, schools will hold lunch outside to the greatest extent possible and as weather permits. During the first couple weeks of school and until COVID-19 testing begins, lunch for all K-5 will be held outdoors as long as weather permits. Middle schoolers may eat outside as well. Procedures as well as locations will be established by each school.

Across schools students may eat both outdoors at tables as weather allows or indoors in a combination of cafeterias, communal spaces, or classrooms to ensure the greatest amount of distance between students. In accordance with CDC and IDPH guidelines, students will eat minimally three feet apart whether indoors or outdoors.

Spaces for assigned eating spaces will be coordinated by the school principal to ensure assigned seating and the consistent implementation of safety measures.

All students must be supervised while eating so they may not eat in separate spaces or alone by themselves.

According to CDC and IDPH guidelines, schools should maximize physical distancing to the greatest extent possible while maintaining at least three feet of space between students.

In communal eating spaces, plexiglass may be used as necessary.

• Hand washing/sanitizing before meals.
• A combination of eating spaces may be used to increase physical distancing and reduce the number of individuals in a given space at one time.                          
• Meals are encouraged to be eaten outdoors, if weather permits. Meals will be eaten outdoors for the first several weeks in K-5 and until COVID-19 testing begins (as weather permits).
• D65 staff will serve meals. No buffets or sharing of utensils.
• Students will eat at least 3 feet apart (aligned to CDC/IDPH guidance)
• Students are encouraged to wear their masks while preparing their food and worn up until eating takes place. While difficult, students should refrain from talking as much as possible and engage in socialization when masked after eating and during recess. Students should speak in indoor voices and refrain from shouting.
• Cleaning between lunch periods and disinfecting will take place at the conclusion of all lunch periods. 
• Assigned seating will be maintained to support contact tracing

Yes, students will have a total of 50 minutes for lunch and recess.

Middle and magnet school students may enter the buildings beginning at 7:45am. Elementary students may enter the building beginning at 8:50am. "Grab and Go" breakfast may be picked up and eaten during this time.

Yes, there will continue to be lunchroom supervisors available to support students.

We take seriously the need to support and maximize safety for children with food allergies. Accommodations will be made for students in accordance with their 504 plan.

Yes, through a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture, breakfast and lunch is free to all students. We encourage all students to enjoy!

While you do not need to complete an application in order for your child to receive free meals in the 21-22 school year, there are still a number of benefits for families who complete the application and qualify! This includes free or reduced price fees and access to additional resources and services.

This summer, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issued a resolution for the full return to in-person learning for all students on all attendance days. This decision acknowledged the limitations of remote learning despite the tremendous effort of educators and school districts. Under the ISBE resolution, District 65 cannot offer a district-wide virtual pathway option for families to choose for their child.

District 65 will continue to follow the guidance as issued by ISBE as well as the Illinois State Department of Public Health and local health departments and will continue to monitor changing health conditions. The District will remain flexible and adaptive in the event guidance changes or it becomes unsafe to continue with in-person learning. While our focus is on a safe and full return to in-person learning, the District will continue its planning efforts on all fronts.

Yes. In accordance with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) resolution, District 65 will offer the option for remote learning to any student who is required to quarantine and is ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Remote learning will be available during the length of their quarantine and until they receive clearance from the health department to return to in-person learning.

Students will be invited to join a Remote Quarantine Classroom (QRC) for the duration of their quarantine. The educator will provide a schedule and the students will engage in synchronous and asynchronous learning for a total of five hours per day. Students will return to their onsite classroom once the quarantine period is over. Additional information about Quarantine Remote Classrooms is available on the District 65 website.

Over the past year, a lot has been learned about COVID-19, how it spreads, and prevention strategies. As recommended by the CDC and IDPH, District 65 will continue to take a layered approach using the strategies that proved to be effective last school year including masking, physical distancing, hand washing, daily health certifications, improved ventilation, contact tracing, increased cleaning, and now readily available access to vaccinations for ages 12+. 

While vaccination rates are very high and transmission rates are currently low within our community, District 65 is prepared with a robust mitigation plan to maximize safety and help prevent COVID-19 in our schools. We take the health and safety of our community very seriously and will continue to adapt our guidance and plans in accordance with that of the CDC, IDPH, local health departments, Illinois State Board of Education, and elected officials in consultation with our medical advisors. As the pandemic evolves, our guidance must continue to evolve in alignment with research-based best practices and increased vaccination rates.

As it stands, there are no hard and fast metrics that school districts can put in place as it relates to closures or pivoting to remote learning. Nor has it been recommended by medical professionals to establish. We have learned over the past year that community level metrics are not necessarily correlated to COVID-19 spread in schools - that schools can actually be safer in areas with high community spread because of strict enforcement and adherence to mitigation measures (consistent masking, distancing, etc). Below is some general guidance as to how District 65 will consider closures or pivots to remote learning.

District Closure or District-wide Pivot to Remote Learning

• Under the current Illinois State Board of Education resolution, there is no basis for a district-wide closure or remote learning pathway.
• Continued monitoring of COVID-19 situation and adherence to latest guidance for opening based on directives and guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Public Health, Evanston and Skokie Health Departments, and/or state and local officials. The decision to pivot to remote learning for the entire district will be made at the direction of one of the above mentioned authorities based on health conditions.

School or Classroom-based Closure or Pivot to Remote Learning

• Contact tracing will be used to determine positive cases, quarantines, and whether spread happened in or outside of school/classrooms.
• If there is evidence of spread within a classroom or school (two or more connected cases), it may be necessary to temporarily pivot to remote learning in that classroom or school.
• Every situation is unique and must be treated as such.
• This decision will be at the direction and with the guidance and expertise of the Evanston and Skokie public health departments and their communicable disease specialists.
  • District 65 health services staff and administrators will support the contact tracing process.
  • Communication will be issued to the classroom community and close contacts as needed.

The health and safety of our District 65 community remains our top priority. The District will not hesitate to take the necessary actions as the situation warrants and always with the health, safety, and overall well-being of our students and staff in mind. The District will continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of its mitigation plan and will communicate changes as needed. As we have all learned to do over the past year, the District asks that families and staff remain supportive and adaptive as conditions change and guidance evolves.

Student assemblies will only take place if they can be held outdoors with physical distancing, assigned seating, and masking. Given the increase in COVID-19 cases, there will be no indoor assemblies. This guidance will be reviewed again over winter break.

Yes. Students will have assigned seating on the school bus, during class, and also during the lunch period. The purpose of this is to support efficient contact tracing in the event of a positive COVID-19 case.

There will be no student field trips at least through January 2022.

Yes, the District 65 School Age Child Care program as well as Right At School will operate before and afterschool programming.

At the current time, District 65 is taking a phased approach to before and after school activities for students. Childcare and academic and SEL support programs (such as Books and Breakfast, Y.O.U., and the Howard Area reading program) will begin in September.

Elective programs will begin November 1.

District 65 will allow visitors on a limited basis. This includes those essential for building or district operations and include D65 staff and contractors.

To help keep school communities safe, parents/guardians will not be allowed to enter D65 buildings for any purpose other than to drop off or pick up their student(s) during school hours. Parents/guardians should remain in the main office or lobby while waiting for their child.

Masks and social distancing required for all visitors.

Volunteers and tutors will be allowed on a limited basis to support academic and SEL based support programs for students. Volunteers must be pre-approved by the principal and adhere to all D65 health and safety guidelines while on site.

To help keep our school communities safe and reduce the number of outside individuals in buildings, parent/caregiver groups are encouraged to continue to meet virtually. Outdoor spaces may be used for gatherings if approved by the school principal and in accordance with all D65 health and safety guidelines.

The use of District 65 facilities by external groups will be limited this school year and will only be at the approval of the Superintendent.

Due to the transition to the new PowerSchool student information system, student fees were not collected in the spring. We anticipate fee notices going out to families in September. More information will be forthcoming.

There will be no supply fees this school year. All student supplies will be paid for by the District using ESSER funds.

The District 65 calendar for the 21-22 school year is available on the D65 website in English and Spanish. This includes holidays, non-attendance days, breaks, and school improvement days.

There are no school supply lists or supply fees for the 21-22 school year. District 65 will purchase all necessary instructional supplies for students.

More information about school supplies

District 65 strongly advises against unneccesary travel and especially to places with high community spread. We will continue to follow state and city guidance and will not impose mandatory quarantine for travel unless it is advised by officials. Please follow any travel guidance in the area in which you live.

District 65 will monitor city and state guidelines and will amend our travel advisories as necessary, especially in the case of increased community spread locally or regionally.

As recommended in the Student Handbook, individuals should first contact their child’s teacher. If the situation remains unresolved, please contact the school principal. If there is still no resolution, please contact the appropriate member of the District 65 leadership team.

Staff members should contact their supervisor.

 COVID-19 like symptoms include the following:

• fever (100.4 or higher)
• new onset of moderate to severe headache
• shortness of breath
• new cough
• sore throat
• vomiting 
• diarrhea
• new loss of sense of taste or smell
• fatigue from unknown cause
• muscle or body aches from unknown cause

The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to most of our seasonal illnesses. It is understood that there is a possibility that students/staff may experience seasonal allergies around this time of the year. However, the new IDPH guidance requires that any student with the aforementioned symptoms get tested to ensure safe entry into schools.

On September 29, 2021, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) provided schools with updated guidance on quarantines, positive COVID-19 cases, and the return to school after being sick. This guidance will be used by district and school administrators to make determinations in conjunction with the local health departments.

Staff and students should remain home and continue to monitor their health condition for 24 hours following onset of symptoms. Individuals must be fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of medication.

If symptoms do not resolve within 24 hours, students must be tested for COVID-19, within 48 hours of the onset of their symptoms. According to new guidance, students and staff must be symptom free and provide proof of a negative PCR test to the health clerk before returning to school (regardless of vaccination status). 

As a reminder, students and staff must be fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of medication, before returning to school/work and return 48 hours after vomiting or diarrhea has resolved. Please DO NOT administer fever-reducing medication before sending your child to school. Often when the body is fighting the infection, a fever is a sign they may have a cold or the flu. Please note that your child should not be in school if they are fighting off an infection or virus; they should be monitored at home for worsening symptoms. 

Staff/students must then be tested for COVID-19 within 48 hours of the onset of their symptoms. According to new guidance, a staff member/student must be symptom free and provide proof of a negative PCR test to their supervisor via CrisisGo before returning to school (regardless of vaccination status). 

In order to return to school or work, the District requires a note from the doctor with an alternative diagnosis and a negative, (not home kit), COVID-19 test for return to school/work. If you are not at school/work because you tested positive for COVID-19, it is not necessary to get a doctor’s note. Confirmation will be sent when students/staff may return.

Please DO NOT administer fever-reducing medication before coming to school/work. Often when the body is fighting the infection, a fever is a sign someone may have a cold or the flu. Individuals should not be at school/work if they are fighting off an infection or virus; they should be monitored at home for worsening symptoms. 

If symptoms persist beyond 24 hours and the student/staff member is not tested or does not provide proof of a negative test, they must remain out of school work for 10 calendar days.

Students may participate in Quarantine Remote Classroom during this time.

Free testing sites can be found at the IDPH website at dph.illinois.gov/testing. 

In accordance with Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2021-18, all students (over the age of two), staff, and visitors are required to wear masks in K-12 schools. Masking is an essential mitigation measure in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Yes, even if you are fully vaccinated and have submitted proof of your COVID-19 vaccination you still have to wear a mask. 

All students and staff should wear their own mask to school and bring a spare as a back-up. If an individual forgets their mask or does not have one, District 65 will provide them with a disposable one.

Please review CDC guidelines for guidelines for choosing an appropriate mask.

As of February 14, 2022, masking is no longer required outdoors with the exception of individuals returning from quarantine who must remain masked at all times (days 6-10, except when eating).

Masking is still encouraged for individuals not vaccinated or not up-to-date with their vaccinations.

Physical distancing should still be maintained outdoors, especially when unmasked.

Mask breaks may be given when students can be outdoors and physical distancing can be maintained.

Reasonable effort will be made to assist children with wearing masks and maintaining social distance. If a student refuses to wear a mask or has issues in keeping one on, the parent/caregiver will be contacted to discuss and obtain support.

Wearing masks is considered to be a procedural expectation and is a part of our district uniform policy.

Yes, all students will be assigned a seat to support the contact tracing process. Please talk with your child so that they understand the importance of sitting in their assigned seat.

It may be possible that assigned seats may change early on in the school year as routes are finalized.

• All students will be required to wear masks on the bus. 
• Assigned seating will be established for all students.
• Buses will be cleaned between routes and disinfected at the end of each day.
• Bus drivers have been trained in health and safety procedures.

Like many other professions, there is an extreme shortage of the number of bus drivers and Positive Connections is not able to accommodate additional bus routes at this time.

Yes, discounted Ventra cards may be picked up in the school offices.

In response to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the more contagious Delta variant, the Board will vote on August 23 to mandate staff vaccinations. An update will be forthcoming once a determination has been made.

With the majority of staff not working during the summer months, the District does not have updated information on current vaccination rates. While District 65 informally polled staff in the spring, we believe this information to be highly outdated as vaccinations have become more readily available. Further, it has not been required for staff to share this information so any disclosures were voluntary. More information will be forthcoming as a determination is made regarding mandated staff vaccinations.

No. District 65 strongly encourages all individuals to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible but is not requiring student vaccination for COVID-19 at this time. Students must, however, be up-to-date on all other required immunizations. 

According to CDC guidelines, individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine unless they begin to experience symptoms. Providing copies of vaccination cards in advance will ensure more efficient contact tracing. 

In order to maximize safety across our community, proof of COVID-19 vaccination should be submitted to District 65. This is especially important for newly vaccinated students ages 5-11. Copies of vaccine cards should be submitted to your school health clerk (electronically or delivered in-person) and will be securely stored along with other health records. As a reminder, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine if they are symptom-free if they are exposed to COVID-19 unless they receive a positive COVID-19 test.

In collaboration with the City of Evanston Health and Human Services Department, District 65 is hosting a vaccination clinic this Saturday, August 28, at the JEH Early Childhood Center. The clinic is open to all D65 students ages 12+, parents/guardians, staff members, and Evanston residents. The first dose of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered. This vaccine recently received full approval from the FDA (ages 16+) and has proven to be safe and effective. We are strongly encouraging all of those eligible who have yet to be vaccinated to register today. Appointments are still available from 9am-1:45pm. 

Registration and more info

Additionally opportunities for eligible individuals (ages 12+) continue to be readily available through the City of Evanston and Village of Skokie Health Departments, healthcare providers, and pharmacies.