D34 Flex: Frequently Asked Questions
- Cases of COVID-19
- Health & Safety
- Travel
- Food Service
- Quarantine Q&A
- Operations Planning
- Transportation
- General
Cases of COVID-19
- Will the District notify me if there is a positive case of COVID-19 in the school?
- Who has to quarantine if there is a positive case?
- What if a student gets sick during the day?
- What is a Close Contact?
- What is a Probable Case?
- WHO SHOULD I CONTACT WHEN I RECEIVE MY CHILD'S COVID-19 TEST RESULTS?
Will the District notify me if there is a positive case of COVID-19 in the school?
Per CDC guidance, the District will notify those who have been determined to have been in close contact with the person who tested positive. A close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, starting from 2 days before illness onset. Under the CDC definition, for example, an individual exposed to COVID-19 for only 5 minutes but three different times within a 24-hour period (perhaps spanning two school days) now falls under the definition of a “close contact.”
The District will maintain confidentiality as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).
Who has to quarantine if there is a positive case?
Possible and confirmed exposure could result in remote learning days for part of a class, an entire class, or an entire school, depending on the exposure. Students and staff within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive may move to remote learning for 10 days. Seating charts will be enforced in classrooms and buses to help D34 staff determine possible exposure and mitigate future spread as best as possible.
What if a student gets sick during the day?
Infirmaries at each building are ventilated and staffed so that students who become sick are isolated from others and cared for until parents can pick them up. Parents or guardians of a symptomatic student will be notified immediately of their child’s status and asked to pick up their child as soon as possible (preferably within 45 minutes of a school nurse phone call).
What is a Close Contact?
A close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, starting from 2 days before illness onset. Under the CDC definition, for example, an individual exposed to COVID-19 for only 5 minutes but three different times within a 24-hour period (perhaps spanning two school days) now falls under the definition of a “close contact.”
Individuals who have been identified as close contacts are instructed to quarantine for 10 days after the last day of contact with the person who is COVID-19 positive to monitor for symptoms.
What is a Probable Case?
WHO SHOULD I CONTACT WHEN I RECEIVE MY CHILD'S COVID-19 TEST RESULTS?
When you receive your child's COVID-19 test results, please email results to Bernadette Godley.
If you receive results outside of working hours and your child is returning to school the next day, please call: 773-596-4971.
Health & Safety
District 34 is working in many ways to adopt policies and procedures, establish systems, and provide resources to protect the health and safety of students, staff and families. We follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), as well as the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
- Where do I submit COVID-19 test results?
- If I have had COVID-19, do I have to quarantine?
- If I’ve had the vaccine, do I have to quarantine?
- Where can I find a convenient location to take a PCR test?
- Does the District accept a negative PCR (standard) test or a rapid test to return to school?
- Will Face Coverings be required?
- What are the exceptions for mask use?
- Are face shields allowed instead of masks?
- Will 6 feet distancing be enforced?
- What health professionals are you working with in planning?
- Will students have outdoor mask breaks?
- How are schools considering health and safety measures of students with pre-existing respiratory disease (i.e. asthma, cystic fibrosis)
- What types of sanitization protocols will be implemented at schools (i.e. air purification systems, daily cleanings in the morning and afternoon; plexiglass)?
- If a student tests positive for COVID-19 will all the students and teacher in the class be considered close contacts? Will everyone in the class (+ siblings of students) be required to get tested?
- If my child has to quarantine because they are a close contact, are they able to participate in remote learning?
- Will the schools also be responsible for taking students temperature to ensure accuracy?
- What is D34 doing to improve air quality?
Where do I submit COVID-19 test results?
Staff members who travel should submit test results to their building principal or supervisor. Parents should send their children’s test result to your school’s health office:
-
Attea: Bernadette Godley
-
Glen Grove: Jennifer Hastings
-
Henking: Kathy Walstrom
-
Hoffman: Kathy Haring
-
Lyon: Sydney Hellmer
-
Pleasant Ridge: Kathleen Pickard
-
Springman: Kathy Szwedo
-
Westbrook: Munhi Sohn
NOTE: After hours and on weekends, send results to District 34’s district-wide contact tracing coordinator Bernadette Godley, bgodley@glenview34.org, 773-596-4971.
If I have had COVID-19, do I have to quarantine?
If I’ve had the vaccine, do I have to quarantine?
Not for exposure to someone with COVID-19, according to a 2/10/2021 update from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), if at least two weeks have passed since having your second shot. "Fully vaccinated persons who meet criteria will no longer be required to quarantine following an exposure to someone with COVID-19," the CDC said in updates to its webpage with guidance on vaccination.
From the CDC:
Vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria†:
-
Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
-
Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series
-
Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure
Persons who do not meet all 3 of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
However, the CDC has not updated guidance on the requirement to quarantine after travel for vaccinated individuals. At this time, guidance states that you must quarantine after travel, even if you have been vaccinated.
Where can I find a convenient location to take a PCR test?
There are many options for no-cost COVID-19 testing open to all, regardless of symptoms. You can find the full list of the State of Illinois community testing sites here.
Results are typically reported within 48 hours.
Does the District accept a negative PCR (standard) test or a rapid test to return to school?
In a recent updated guidance from the Cook County Department of Public Health dictates that, until the Illinois Department of Public Health issues a new "low transmission guide," the District must only accept a PCR test as proof of a negative COVID diagnosis. District 34 will not accept rapid COVID-19 tests at this time.
New from CCDPH: Rapid and PCR tests are acceptable for travel purposes; note that a positive rapid test followed by a negative PCR will still be treated as positive.
Will Face Coverings be required?
What are the exceptions for mask use?
Are face shields allowed instead of masks?
Will 6 feet distancing be enforced?
ISBE and IDPH states: that social distance for in-person learning is now defined as 3 to 6 feet for students and fully vaccinated staff. Maintaining 6 feet remains the safest distance, but schools can operate at no less than 3 feet in order to provide in-person learning.
A close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, starting from 2 days before illness onset. Under the CDC definition, for example, an individual exposed to COVID-19 for only 5 minutes but three different times within a 24-hour period (perhaps spanning two school days) now falls under the definition of a “close contact.”
What health professionals are you working with in planning?
Will students have outdoor mask breaks?
How are schools considering health and safety measures of students with pre-existing respiratory disease (i.e. asthma, cystic fibrosis)
What types of sanitization protocols will be implemented at schools (i.e. air purification systems, daily cleanings in the morning and afternoon; plexiglass)?
If a student tests positive for COVID-19 will all the students and teacher in the class be considered close contacts? Will everyone in the class (+ siblings of students) be required to get tested?
If my child has to quarantine because they are a close contact, are they able to participate in remote learning?
Students who are in quarantine due to close contact will be able to access classroom instruction through Zoom and/or streaming. It will vary by grade, classroom and student need, but in general, students will be "live" for the beginning of school/class, and for instruction, and then will work independently (just like their peers in the building are working independently on classroom work). So, students will move between synchronous and asynchronous time throughout the day.
Will the schools also be responsible for taking students temperature to ensure accuracy?
What is D34 doing to improve air quality?
Travel
- IF I TRAVEL OUT OF STATE FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS, DO I HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
- WHAT ARE THE QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS IF I TRAVEL OUT OF THE COUNTRY?
- IF I TRAVEL WITHIN ILLINOIS, DO I HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
- IF A PARENT TRAVELS BUT THE CHILD DOES NOT, DOES THE CHILD NEED TO QUARANTINE OR TAKE A COVID-19 TEST?
- Where do I send my child's COVID test results?
IF I TRAVEL OUT OF STATE FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS, DO I HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
If you are traveling to a yellow state, no quarantine or pre-arrival test is required. Maintain strict masking and social distancing.
If your final destination is a state on the orange list, you must follow the quarantine guidelines, even if you visit the state for less than 24 hours. Note that the orange list is posted on the City of Chicago’s website. The CCDPH references that list; they aligned their guidance to be consistent with the City of Chicago’s Travel Order.
If you travel to an orange state, the following guidelines must be followed when returning back to Cook County:
-
10-day quarantine
OR
-
Pre-arrival negative test result (no longer than 72 hours prior to arrival) with strict masking, social distancing and avoidance of in-person gatherings. (New from CCDPH: Rapid and PCR tests are acceptable for travel purposes; note that a positive rapid test followed by a negative PCR will still be treated as positive.)
OR
-
If you are not able to get a test within 72 hours before returning, you can take a test when you return as long as you quarantine until you receive a negative test result. The Flick Park testing location has easy online scheduling.
OR
-
Be fully vaccinated, defined as two weeks after the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks after one dose of a single-dose vaccine (while remaining symptom-free and maintaining masking and distancing).
OR
-
Have had COVID-19 (within 90 days after onset of symptoms or, if asymptomatic, their positive test).
NOTE: Parents must provide negative test results for their children who travel.
WHAT ARE THE QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS IF I TRAVEL OUT OF THE COUNTRY?
For international travel, the District follows CDC guidelines requiring at least a seven-day quarantine upon return. The CDC requires all air passengers entering the United States to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. Then, 3-5 days after you return, you can test again and return to school with a negative test after 7 days. If you do not test, you can return to school after 10 days.
IF I TRAVEL WITHIN ILLINOIS, DO I HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
No, there is no quarantine requirement after travel within the state. However, please understand the primary goal is to protect the safety and health of our staff, students and families. Regardless of location (even locally), if you attend gatherings larger than the Restore Illinois Phase 4 guidelines (the lesser of 50 people or 25% capacity), or any gathering where distancing and masking requirements are not followed, you must quarantine.
IF A PARENT TRAVELS BUT THE CHILD DOES NOT, DOES THE CHILD NEED TO QUARANTINE OR TAKE A COVID-19 TEST?
No, there is not a designation of a close contact of someone who travels, and therefore no requirement for quarantine. However, the parent who travels (and anyone in quarantine) should practice masking and distancing until they receive a negative test result, and for 10 days when in contact with anyone who has a health condition that places them at particular risk for COVID-19.
Where do I send my child's COVID test results?
Staff members who travel should submit test results to their building principal or supervisor. Parents should send their children’s test result to your school’s health office:
-
Attea: Bernadette Godley
-
Glen Grove: Jennifer Hastings
-
Henking: Kathy Walstrom
-
Hoffman: Kathy Haring
-
Lyon: Sydney Hellmer
-
Pleasant Ridge: Kathleen Pickard
-
Springman: Kathy Szwedo
-
Westbrook: Munhi Sohn
Food Service
- WHAT WILL LUNCH/FOOD SERVICE LOOK LIKE in adapted in person?
- WILL STUDENTS HAVE LUNCH IN THE CAFETERIA OR IN CLASSROOMS?
- With lunch being free this year, does that mean everything is free?
- Will weekly meal box pick up be available during adapted in person learning?
WHAT WILL LUNCH/FOOD SERVICE LOOK LIKE in adapted in person?
WILL STUDENTS HAVE LUNCH IN THE CAFETERIA OR IN CLASSROOMS?
With lunch being free this year, does that mean everything is free?
Will weekly meal box pick up be available during adapted in person learning?
On Wednesday, April 7, students returned to full in-person learning. Meal boxes are only available for students (and/or their siblings under 18) who are not offered meals in schools. GOAL families, and families of students who are in person but have siblings under age 18 who are not in school (or not in person), can participate.
Meal pick up will continue to be on Wednesdays. Pickup will be from 3:30pm - 6:00pm at Springman Middle School.
If you need additional assistance, reach out to your school's social worker. You can also contact the Northfield Township Food Pantry at 847-724-8300.
Quarantine Q&A
- WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR A SHORTENED QUARANTINE?
- IF I HAVE HAD COVID-19, DO I HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
- IF I HAD THE VACCINE, DO I HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
- IF OUR CHILD HAS BEEN IN A POD OR OTHER REGULAR DAYCARE/REMOTE LEARNING SETTING WITH OTHER D34 STUDENTS, DO THEY HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR A SHORTENED QUARANTINE?
For international travel, the District follows CDC guidelines requiring at least a seven-day quarantine upon return. The CDC requires all air passengers entering the United States to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. Then, 3-5 days after you return, you can test again and return to school with a negative test after 7 days. If you do not test, you can return to school after 10 days.
New travel guidance (as of March 17, 2021):
If you are traveling to a yellow state, no quarantine or pre-arrival test is required. Maintain strict masking and social distancing.
If your final destination is a state on the orange list, you must follow the quarantine guidelines, even if you visit the state for less than 24 hours. Note that the orange list is posted on the City of Chicago’s website. The CCDPH references that list; they aligned their guidance to be consistent with the City of Chicago’s Travel Order.
If you travel to an orange state, the following guidelines must be followed when returning back to Cook County:
-
10-day quarantine
OR
-
Pre-arrival negative test result (no longer than 72 hours prior to arrival) with strict masking, social distancing and avoidance of in-person gatherings. (New from CCDPH: Rapid and PCR tests are acceptable for travel purposes; note that a positive rapid test followed by a negative PCR will still be treated as positive.)
OR
-
If you are not able to get a test within 72 hours before returning, you can take a test when you return as long as you quarantine until you receive a negative test result. The Flick Park testing location has easy online scheduling.
OR
-
Be fully vaccinated, defined as two weeks after the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks after one dose of a single-dose vaccine (while remaining symptom-free and maintaining masking and distancing).
OR
-
Have had COVID-19 (within 90 days after onset of symptoms or, if asymptomatic, their positive test).
NOTE: Parents must provide negative test results for their children who travel.
IF I HAVE HAD COVID-19, DO I HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
IF I HAD THE VACCINE, DO I HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
Not for exposure to someone with COVID-19, according to a 2/10/2021 update from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), if at least two weeks have passed since having your second shot. "Fully vaccinated persons who meet criteria will no longer be required to quarantine following an exposure to someone with COVID-19," the CDC said in updates to its webpage with guidance on vaccination. From the CDC:
Vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria†:
-
Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
-
Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series
-
Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure
Persons who do not meet all 3 of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
IF OUR CHILD HAS BEEN IN A POD OR OTHER REGULAR DAYCARE/REMOTE LEARNING SETTING WITH OTHER D34 STUDENTS, DO THEY HAVE TO QUARANTINE?
Operations Planning
- How will staff and students be screened?
- How often will classrooms be cleaned/disinfected?
- What hand washing/sanitizing procedures will be in place?
- Will visitors be allowed in the buildings?
- Will students be able to use lockers?
- Will students share supplies?
How will staff and students be screened?
The District will have a process for staff to self-certify that they have taken their temperature and considered symptoms of COVID-19 before coming to work each day. Parents will certify that they have screened their children (taken temperature and assessed other symptoms). They will confirm that they have done this before school each day by logging into PowerSchool and selecting the certification process. There also will be a scanning process near the entrance of each building for students to scan in to ensure that their parents have completed the certification process each day.
How often will classrooms be cleaned/disinfected?
Every room throughout the District will be disinfected daily. The routine daily cleaning procedures include:
- Clean and disinfect hard surfaces once a day (exceptions include tablets, touch screens, keyboards and other electronic devices)
- Repeatedly disinfect frequently touched fixtures in common areas multiple times throughout the day, including:
- Bannisters
- Exterior and Hallway door handles
- Bathrooms
The District will use disinfectant approved by the EPA against COVID-19; a spray bottle of disinfectant will be in every classroom for as-needed use.
Deep cleaning including disinfecting all buildings will happen daily. The District will use a disinfectant approved by the EPA against COVID-19. In addition, a spray bottle of disinfectant, wipes and hand sanitizer will be available in every classroom for as-needed use.
The District is hiring additional custodial staff to meet the increased cleaning and sanitizing requirements.
What hand washing/sanitizing procedures will be in place?
Will visitors be allowed in the buildings?
There will be very limited access to District 34 schools and the administration building; only those needing to conduct essential business, and have made an appointment. Visitors will be required to wear masks. Plexiglass guards have been installed in offices as a barrier between visitors and office staff, and distance markings will be visible on floors to remind visitors of distancing requirements.
Will students be able to use lockers?
Will students share supplies?
Transportation
- How many children will be on a bus?
- Will fees be refunded?
- Will buses be cleaned frequently?
- What other safety and health measures will take place on buses?
How many children will be on a bus?
No more than 50 people (students, driver and any necessary assistants) will be on a bus. Seat assignments will allow for distancing as much as possible, but there may be routes in which students are less than 6’ apart. Family members/students from the same household who ride the same bus will sit together.
Will fees be refunded?
If you are a paid rider, and won't be utilizing transportation, the District will provide a full refund. To request this refund, contact Rob Conner at rconner@glenview34.org.
A large portion ($75) of the annual student fees cover technology, which will continue to be used for remote learning. The remaining portion of the fees will be used for supplies that are unique to remote learning, such as art supplies. These supplies will be distributed to students during supply pick up opportunities.
Will buses be cleaned frequently?
What other safety and health measures will take place on buses?
General
- Will an effort be made to keep a consistent teacher for each student during the year?
- How has continuity of teacher and curriculum being addressed across all options? Can it be addressed if switching from GOAL to other options?
- How is the district addressing the substitute shortage?
- Given that it is likely that teachers will get sick and be out for several weeks, will the substitutes be certified teachers?
- What happens when someone in the teacher’s house is sick? Will the teacher quarantine for two week? Will there be a substitute for in-person learning?
- How will fine arts be supported? Will supplies be available at home?
- For continuity, will teachers be consistent no matter the “phase” we are in? Why use teams when individual teachers can ensure continuity?
- Is any effort being made to ‘loop’ 8th graders with the same teachers? Certainly 8th graders are expecting to loop.
- Can we request placements to accommodate pods or babysitting groups?
- How will the District handle assessments and other important measures/transitions for high school readiness for 8th grade students?
Will an effort be made to keep a consistent teacher for each student during the year?
This will occur in situations where a student stays in a specific mode throughout the year (Example - GOAL all year, REMOTE+ / Hybrid all year, In-Person All Year).
- With movement (both by students and staff) based on the changing dynamics of our environment, there is not 100% guarantee. What we can provide is the assurance that we will be working throughout each transition to provide the smoothest and most age appropriate supports for our students and staff.
How has continuity of teacher and curriculum being addressed across all options? Can it be addressed if switching from GOAL to other options?
Yes - we are working on the specifics around following our current curriculum maps throughout each grade and environment. This will mean that upon the completion of Trimester 1 - all students will be within a lesson or two of each other, to ease transitions or adjustments in an individual placement.
How is the district addressing the substitute shortage?
Given that it is likely that teachers will get sick and be out for several weeks, will the substitutes be certified teachers?
If a situation did come up like this, in alignment with ISBE guidelines we would provide a certified substitute or re-allocate our district staff to support a classroom. If the time-period were to extend beyond the level of certificate for a substitute teacher, the district would work to allocated the appropriate supports.
What happens when someone in the teacher’s house is sick? Will the teacher quarantine for two week? Will there be a substitute for in-person learning?
How will fine arts be supported? Will supplies be available at home?
For continuity, will teachers be consistent no matter the “phase” we are in? Why use teams when individual teachers can ensure continuity?
Is any effort being made to ‘loop’ 8th graders with the same teachers? Certainly 8th graders are expecting to loop.
Can we request placements to accommodate pods or babysitting groups?
How will the District handle assessments and other important measures/transitions for high school readiness for 8th grade students?
In terms of high school testing, it has been the PSAT, usually in October, usually in-person at the high school on a Saturday. We have not heard yet how the high school will work through testing or even if done at all. We will administer NWEA which is shared with the high school but I’m not sure what factor it is for placement. I think most placement work is done through teacher recommendations with meetings between 8th grade teachers and high school staff.
Our Commitment
As we work to reach our "new normal," District 34 is committed to:
- Safety & Health: The safety and health of students, staff and families is the top priority.
- Flexibility: We have developed plans that allow us to adapt to inevitable changes.
- Equity: We will provide equitable access for all students and families.
- Connections: D34 will keep open the lines of two-way communication, and communicate consistently, clearly and with compassion.
Community Resources
#BeWell34
A Space for Calm
#BeWell34 is a virtual space for students, staff, and families to find resources to encourage mindfulness and to support well being.