Peoria Public Schools students will learn remotely for the first two weeks of the spring semester.
Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat said students will start remote learning on Jan. 5, before heading back to class for in-person learning on Jan. 19.
"To account for what will likely be a winter break filled with travel and winter gatherings, we want to be proactive in keeping our buildings safe following the break," she said at Monday night's school board meeting.
For the three weeks between the Thanksgiving and winter breaks, Kherat said the district will carefully monitor internal COVID numbers. She said the district is prepared to fully switch to remote learning quickly if needed.
"We're prepared to retreat as needed if we have to and if we need to," she said. "We're working on providing flexibility for our teaching staff to teach remotely to mitigate any disruptions to the classrooms."
Kherat said any decision to go to full remote learning for a period would likely be decided on a building-by-building basis. She said five or more cases stemming from a classroom within a 14-day period, inadequate staffing levels, or a directive from the Peoria City/County Health Department could all be grounds for pulling that "hard trigger" to shut down a building temporarily.
The district's COVID committee said most of the current virus spread among students and staff is happening in activities outside the building--not in the classroom. Cases among married staff members who both work in the district are especially prevalent, said committee member Thomas Bruch.
Kherat noted the district is trending significantly lower than the state or region at large, with 27 staff members and one student considered active cases districtwide as of Nov. 4.
The district is looking to roll out rapid COVID-19 testing by Nov. 23 at the latest. Reditus Laboratories in Pekin will provide testing sites for district students and staff at Peoria High, Manual, and the Trewyn Wraparound Center.
The goal of that testing is to cut down on quarantine periods for symptomatic students and staff, allowing them to return to buildings more quickly. Those exposed to a known positive contact will still be required to quarantine for a full 14 days.
There's no subscription fee to listen or read our stories. Everyone can access this essential public service thanks to community support. Donate now, and help fund your public media.
