Dear D128 Parents and Students:
Lake County Superintendents were notified early this morning by Lake County Health Department (LCHD) Executive Director Mark Pfister that Governor Pritzer and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) have placed Region 9 (Lake and McHenry counties) in Tier 1 mitigation beginning Saturday at 12:01 a.m. Region 9 joins 7 out of 11 regions in some level of mitigation, including suburban Cook, DuPage and Will counties in the Chicago metro area.
The decision was the result of Region 9 experiencing a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8 percent or above for three consecutive days, which exceeded the thresholds set for establishing mitigation measures under the Restore Illinois State resurgence Plan. The Governor made the formal announcement late this morning. Tier 1 is the lowest (least restrictive) of the 3-tier mitigation levels, and none of the required mitigation actions apply to schools. Region 9 school districts will continue to make school attendance decisions locally. It should be noted that additional mitigation in the communities we serve, in our county and in surrounding counties may provide a safer environment for our pivot to Hybrid learning.
I have included two important information sources for your review, including: (a) this link to the joint announcement letter below from the Lake and McHenry Departments of Public Health, and (b) this link to Restore Illinois Actions to Combat a COVID-19 Resurgence.
The D128 Board reviewed and discussed local COVID-19 metrics and the likelihood of further county mitigation at its regular Board meeting on Monday, October 26. Following updates from the administration on Hybrid learning planning, the Board verbally confirmed its earlier decision to commence our Hybrid learning plan the week of November 9 for staff with a November 12 start date for students. As Board President Pat Groody noted at the Board meeting Monday, the Board will continue to monitor Libertyville and Vernon Hills area COVID-19 metrics to inform decision-making leading up to and after we make the pivot to Hybrid learning.
The district leadership team, along with principals Jon Guillaume and Tom Koulentes and the building leadership teams, will continue to refine preparations for the safest return possible for staff the week of November 9 and for students starting November 12.
Sincerely,
Dr. Prentiss Lea, Superintendent