News

I was notified today, October 21, 2020 that one of our employees has tested positive for COVID-19 on October 18, 2020. The individual was last at school on Friday, October 16, 2020 and has had no contact with students at any time. We are coordinating our efforts with the Cook County Department of Public Health to promptly identify individuals who have had recent close contact with this person to prevent further spread within our school and community. 

We are following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the state and local health departments for best practices and procedures to protect everyone’s health. 

• To prevent further spread of the virus, we will be contacting the parents/guardians of any students who were in close contact with the individual. Close contact is defined as anyone (with or without a face covering) who was within 6 feet of the individual (with or without a face covering) for at least 15 minutes throughout the course of a day. Close contacts may also receive a separate notification from the Cook County Department of Public Health.
• Individuals who are identified as having close contact to the COVID-19 case will be placed in quarantine for 14 calendar days (starting with the date of the most recent contact).
• Students who are identified as having close contact who are feeling well may transition to remote instruction during quarantine.
• Close contacts who are asymptomatic during the 14 days of quarantine do not need to produce a Release from Isolation letter from the local health department before returning to school.
• Close contacts cannot return early, even if the individual has a negative COVID-19 test, due to the incubation and infectious period of COVID-19.

You can help us prevent the spread of COVID-19 by reminding your children of the following procedures.

• Wear face masks.
• Maintain a social distance of 6 feet from others.
• Stay home when you are ill and contact your health care provider.
• Notify our school office if you or your children test positive for COVID-19, have COVID-19 symptoms or are in close contact with someone who tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms.
• Do not share personal items.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and cover coughs and sneezes.
• Wash your hands frequently and properly, following CDC guidelines on handwashing.

We understand your desire to know who the individual is so that you can assess your possibility of exposure. We are providing as much information as we are able to share with you. Federal privacy laws prevent District 54 from sharing the name or other specifics about the individual.

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work together to provide a safe environment at school. Contact me with any questions you may have.