The Examiner U-46 News FeedU-46 releases more data regarding school year By Seth Hancock
School District U-46 announced that the final day of distance learning classes this year will be Tuesday, May 26.
Schools have been closed in the district since Monday, March 16 in the district as an “emergency day” by Superintendent Tony Sanders while Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 shutdown orders started on March 17 as “Act of God” days.
“Pursuant to updated guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), we need to adjust our calendar so that students will not make up that day,” Sanders wrote in a Friday, May 8 statement. The original school year calendar designated May 27 as the final day of classes.
Additionally, this Friday, May 15 is a non-attendance day for a planning day for teachers.
As schools remain closed, principals will be in touch with families to schedule plans for students to pick up personal property left at their respective schools according to Sanders. He added that secondary students who are facing an “incomplete” in a course will be contacted by staff.
The district is still moving forward with a virtual graduation on June 13 after scrapping the July 11 ceremony at the Sears Centre based on the ISBE cancelling in-person ceremonies.
Sanders noted that the ISBE and Illinois Department of Public Health has reversed “what had been a directive for no in-person commencements,” but the virtual graduation remains the current plan for U-46. He said the district is discussing other options to recognize seniors, but graduation will be virtual.
U-46 is “working with local health and safety officials to determine if we can provide an additional meaningful, yet safe, opportunity to recognize the Class of 2020 across all five high schools,” Sanders wrote.
For the virtual ceremony, seniors will be asked to provide a photo in their cap and gown to be uploaded. Caps and gowns are being distributed at high schools this week.
The district is making updates to its distance learning program based on feedback while Sanders suggested this form of school may last beyond this school year. In a May 6 statement, he wrote that a districtwide goal has been set “to move toward using just one online learning management system (LMS), Canvas, by fall 2020.”
Additionally, Sanders updated on social media how many taxpayer funded meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) have been handed, indicating 901,602 meals have been distributed and 300,534 snacks.
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