Mahomet-Seymour will continue in-person school for the time being. On Thursday the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department recommended that all school in Champaign County move to remote learning as soon as possible and continue until Jan. 5.
CUPHD Julie Pryde cited community spread, which includes 10 deaths in Champaign County since Nov. 5, hospitals filled to capacity and almost 900 cases within the county within the last week.
A district letter to parents on Friday afternoon said the recommendation was a “great surprise” to area superintendents. Superintendent Lindsey Hall said wrote the “cases and exposures that we deal with as a school district are coming from outside events–NOT from the transmission of COVID 19 in our schools.”
Pryde said Thursday that schools within the county were doing a “good job”, but “once you get this much community transmission, you are going to see a lot of faculty, staff and kids with it, as well.”
She added that several daycares in Champaign County have had to close down because of several positive cases at one time.
Mahomet-Seymour School District has placed 15 new COVID-19 cases among in-person students on their dashboard since Nov. 9.
Hall wrote, “As of this morning, below are some current data I am sharing. While we’ve seen an uptick in cases this week, we are not considered to have had an “outbreak” in our schools this week as defined by CUPHD,” in her email.
She reported 115 in are in quarantine: 10 are staff and 105 are students; 16 positive COVID cases, all are students and 99 are exposures.
“In terms of the recommendation from CUPHD to go to all remote learning for all of our students, this is a recommendation from CUPHD and not a mandate,” Hall wrote. “This was made clear to Champaign County’s school superintendents today in a meeting with Julie Pryde, Administrator of CUPHD. The decision about how to move ahead is up to local school districts. Moving ahead, we will be in school next week, November 16-20, on the schedule we’ve followed all year so far. I respect and appreciate the work of CUPHD, we’ve had a fantastic relationship with them throughout the pandemic and will continue that moving forward. Thus far this school year they have not recommended to us, based on our school data, that the Mahomet-Seymour Schools close buildings or go fully remote due to cases here. We continue to consider our local, school based data points as well as what CUPHD has shared with us regarding the county.”
A decision about in-person learning after Thanksgiving has not been made yet.
As of Thursday, St. Joseph-Ogden, St. Joseph CCSD #169 and Champaign Unity #4 moved to remote learning by Nov. 20.
“A decision has not yet been made about school after Thanksgiving break starting November 30,” Hall wrote. “I know that the uncertainty is difficult–I understand that and would love nothing more than a solid plan that I know we can all follow! Your patience and flexibility is not forgotten throughout the pandemic and it is greatly appreciated.”
Illinois School Districts are required to have a remote learning safety protocol plan per ISBE guidance. Mahomet-Seymour has taken more votes on plans for in-person, hybrid or remote learning than any other school district in Champaign County during the first semester.
“In the best interest of our students, as superintendent, it is my hope to remain open and following the hybrid plan we’ve been following until Dec 18,” Hall said. “I believe this is what is best for our students and families. This may or may not be possible and it is important for everyone to understand we may need to switch at some point to all remote learning. Today is not the day to make that determination. This is an evolving situation, and much could change between now and next week or the following week–this is how 2020 has been all along!
“I will add that it is vitally important that each and every one of us and our family members make healthy decisions regarding our personal lives outside of school in terms of exposure to and transmission of COVID 19. What everyone chooses to do outside of school impacts whether we can continue with in person learning. Also, it’s never a bad time to be tested!
“I would encourage your family and you to engage in making plans for childcare or whatever arrangements you need to make should we find the need to go fully remote after the Thanksgiving break. It’s best to be prepared even if the plans aren’t needed.”
Pryde said that the guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education states that when community transmission is at the rate it is in Champaign County, the recommended steps are for schools to choose remote learning.
