D128 Parents/Guardians:
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recently updated its school health guidelines. Effective immediately, any student who stays home from school due to having COVID-19 symptoms (see list below) must have a negative COVID-19 test in order to return to school. This new guidance applies to all students, regardless of vaccination status.
The guidance lists very specific conditions for the COVID-19 test that must be followed:
Students with COVID-19 symptoms must test within 48 hours of the onset of these symptoms.
A copy of the lab report must be submitted to the school prior to returning. Home tests will not be accepted.
In order to return to school, the COVID-19 test must be negative, and the student’s COVID-19 symptoms must be improving, fever-free for 24 hours and diarrhea-free for 48 hours.
A negative COVID-19 test is required even if the student has an alternative diagnosis from their health care provider.
Students who do not adhere to this guidance, or who do not wish to get a COVID-19 test, will be excluded from school for 10 consecutive days.
Procedures for Reporting Students’ Absences:
When reporting a student’s absence due to illness, please share with the LST staff member any symptoms your child is experiencing and if you are planning to have the student tested for COVID-19. You may receive a follow-up phone call either from the LST or nurse’s office.
COVID-19 Testing Options & Reporting Procedures:
District 128 recommends that families first contact their doctor or pediatrician’s office to arrange testing. Additionally, here is a list of other local testing sites. Once a student obtains their test results, please email or fax a copy of the test result to your student’s school nurses’ office:
LHS: cameron.traut@d128.org, alisa.wasserman@d128.org Fax: 847-327-7933
VHHS: kajal.patel-thakkar@d128.org, diane.dantes@d128.org Fax: 847-932-2188
Once the school receives the test result or doctor’s note, the student’s absence may be changed from an excused absence (EA) to a medical absence (ME).
As a reminder, if a student has one or more of these COVID-19 Symptoms they must stay home from school and obtain a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the symptoms’ onset:
- Fever (temperature =/> 100.4)
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Muscle or body aches, chills
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
- Headache
- Diarrhea, Nausea, or vomiting
Congestion or runny nose (that is not caused by recent, known allergy symptoms - it must be a NEW onset or recent start of this symptom)
If you have any additional questions about this process please contact the LHS Nurse’s Office at 847-327-7016 or VHHS Nurse’s Office at 847-932-2040.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we continue to navigate the changes in procedures due to COVID-19.
Denise Herrmann, Ed.D
Superintendent
Community High School District 128