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WGLT's reporting on the coronavirus pandemic, which began in McLean County in March 2020.

District 87 To Expand In-Person Instruction For K-12

Bloomington High School entrance
Eric Stock
/
WGLT
District 87 has announced students in the hybrid learning format will soon have in-school instruction four days each week.

District 87 students in grades K-12 who have been going to school two days a week will receive four days of in-school instruction each week starting March 30, under a plan superintendent Barry Reilly announced on Monday.In a letter sent to parents, Reilly said coronavirus positivity rates have stayed “consistently low for several weeks” and there have been few positive cases among students and staff.

The district’s COVID-19 dashboard indicates only four students and three staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of February.

Reilly said the district will be able to meet “nearly all safety recommendations” from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). He said District 87 will have acrylic desktop barriers available in classrooms where 6-feet social distancing can’t always be followed.

Reilly indicated more than 80% of parents who responded to a district survey said they were comfortable sending their students to school 4 to 5 days per week knowing social distancing could not always be followed.

Reilly said he anticipates nearly all staff will have had the opportunity to receive at least one COVID vaccine by the end of March.

The district plans to keep Mondays as remote learning days for all students. In-person students at Sarah Raymond preschool will be in school five days a week.

Reilly said students who chose online learning will remain in that format.

“Students will not have the option to switch between learning models (remote or in-person). Families with concerns should contact their school principal,” the letter stated.

Unit 5 moved its hybrid-learning students to all in-person instruction in its grade schools last month, but not for junior high and high school students.

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Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.
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