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Staff Directory

2022-2023 Health and Safety Guidance

We remain committed to maintaining a healthy and safe school environment for our students, staff, and families. As we enter the 2022-23 school year and third year of the pandemic, we are in a very different place from where we were back in March 2020. Vaccines are now widely available for ages 6 months and older, and have proven to be effective at preventing serious illness and hospitalization. We also have more information about how COVID-19 spreads and access to improved treatment options.

We are fortunate to have a strong collaborative partnership with local pediatricians, the Evanston Health Department, and the Skokie Health Department. These partnerships have supported us in refining our COVID-19 health and safety protocols for the upcoming school year. As always, we will continue to monitor the public health situation, remain up-to-date on CDC/IDPH guidance, and consult with our medical advisors to make necessary adjustments throughout the school year.

Please note that all guidance is subject to change at any point. We will be sure to communicate any updates to our staff and families.

Staying Home When Sick

Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases to other people, including the virus that causes COVID-19. We will no longer require students or staff to complete daily health certifications. However, we are trusting our families to partner with us in keeping our schools safe. This means keeping their children home when sick and/or displaying COVID-19 symptoms.

People with symptoms of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and gastrointestinal infections should stay home and get tested for COVID-19. People who are at risk of getting extremely ill with COVID-19 who test positive should consult with a healthcare provider right away for possible treatment, even if their symptoms are mild.

If your child experienced symptoms, they may return to school with a negative test, and if symptoms have improved or resolved. Students should not return to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. Additionally, students may not return to school until diarrhea or vomiting free for 24 hours.

See additional guidance on Isolations and Precautions for People with COVID-19.
District 65 Preventative Strategies
In alignment with updated CDC guidance, we will continue to take preventative strategies in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19 within our schools. The CDC recommends “strategies for everyday operations” or actions schools can take every day to prevent the spread of infectious disease. The following strategies will be in place, regardless of community transmission level:
- Encouraging our community to stay up-to-date with all routine vaccinations as well as for COVID-19. Use this link to see if you are up-to-date with your vaccination status: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html#when-you-can-get-booster
- Encouraging students and staff to stay home when sick
- Continued focus on optimizing ventilation systems, which includes regular filter replacement, HEPA filters in areas where there is limited airflow, windows remaining open and outdoor meals/activities as weather allows
- Reinforcement of proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
- Continued utilization of proper cleaning and disinfection procedures
The following additional preventative measures will be implemented when the community transmission levels are high:
- Shift from mask optional to mask recommended indoors
- Increased testing options available
Masking Protocols
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using COVID-19 Community Levels to determine which COVID-19 prevention strategies are needed, including masking. District 65 will monitor Cook County community transmission levels as decisions are made.

While subject to change, below is universal masking guidance for the 2022-23 school year. We will communicate any updates to our staff and families based on change in transmission level.

Low Transmission: Masks Optional

Medium Transmission: Masks Optional

High Transmission: Masks Recommended Indoors

When are masks required?
- Upon returning from isolation on days 6-10
- In health care settings (i.e. school health office)
- When an outbreak has been identified in a classroom/space or grade level (5 or more positive cases in a contained pod such as a classroom, sports team, after school club, etc. or 20% of students within a large non-podded group such as an entire 6th grade class)
- If mandated by the local or state government
Special Considerations

Individuals who are immunocompromised or at greater risk of serious illness are encouraged to talk to their doctors about appropriate preventative strategies. In settings in which there are individuals who are at an increased risk (i.e. Park School) masks are highly recommended.

Schools with students at risk for getting very sick with COVID-19 must make reasonable modifications when necessary to ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, are able to access in-person learning.
COVID-19 Testing

Availability of Testing Kits

At-home testing kits as well as free COVID-19 testing is now widely available locally at pediatrician offices and pharmacies.

When should your child test?

If you are notified that your child has been exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, it is recommended that your child test five days following exposure. All positive test results must be communicated to your school’s health office.

SHIELD Testing

In early December, SHIELD Testing was canceled at the Joseph E. Hill Education Center due to low turnout. The District was unable to meet the participant threshold required by SHIELD to continue offering this service. Please note that Tuesday, November 29, was the last day of testing.

In the event a COVID-19 outbreak is declared by the health department in one of our schools (three confirmed and connected cases within the same classroom/cohort), we will coordinate with SHIELD to temporarily offer testing within that school.
COVID-19 Dashboard
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