Danville District 118 School Superintendent Alicia Geddis says the State Board of Education is telling school districts to be prepared for kids in the classroom this fall. But the schools will not be returning to pre-pandemic days.
Dr. Geddis outlined during a special school board meeting the guidelines she received earlier this week. They include a requirement that all students and staff wear masks and participate in social distancing – even on school busses. The temperature of students would also be taken before they get on the bus.
But with social distancing some believe it would take a bus perhaps 10 runs what it could previously do in one. Superintendent Geddis and others also wonder where the staffing will come from to do these things.
Each school would have an isolation room – separate from the nurse’s room – for any child who develops COVID symptoms at school.
The State Board also suggested that school districts consider starting school days early…or later. And the Board said schools could go ahead with both driver’s education and school sports.
School Board member Darlene Halloran called the state’s guidelines ‘’ridiculous and impossible’’. Another District 118 Board member, Shannon Schroeder, said it’s a sad situation – but Schroeder expressed confidence the board, administrators and teachers will be able to make the sad situation the very best it can be. And she encouraged everyone to continue to put a positive spin on the situation around children.
