USD116 BOE Update: Jan. 18, 2022
from Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum
Administrative Reports
10.1 COVID-19 Update
UPDATED GUIDANCE:
The CDC recently issued new Isolation and Quarantine Guidance to shorten
the isolation and quarantine periods for the general public. On January 4, 2022,
the CDC clarified that these recommendations apply to K-12 Schools and on
January 6, 2022, released school specific guidance, namely Overview of
COVID-19 Isolation for K-12 Schools and Overview of COVID-19 Quarantine for
K-12 Schools.
The state of Illinois has adopted the CDC’s updated guidance regarding
COVID-19 prevention in K-12 schools.
This guidance applies to all public and nonpublic schools that serve students
in pre kindergarten through grade 12 (preK-12).
NEW DEFINITION OF CLOSE CONTACT:
"Close contact” means an individual who was within 6 feet of a confirmed or
probable case for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period.
However, a close contact is not: A student who was within 3 to 6 feet in a
classroom setting for at least 15 minutes with a confirmed or probable student
case if both case and contact were consistently masked for the entire exposure period.
MANDATORY EXCLUSION OF STUDENTS AND STAFF:
If you test positive for COVID19 (exclusion) Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must do the following:
- Stay home for a minimum of five days and a maximum of 10 days after the first day of symptoms or the date of a positive test for asymptomatic persons.
- Continue to wear a mask around others for five more days after returning to school. STUDENTS AND STAFF RETURNING WILL BE PROVIDED A KN95 MASK FOR DAYS 6-10. THE DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE THE MASK.
- If the student/staff member is not properly masking, they will have to stay home for the full 10 days.
If you have COVID-19- like symptoms: Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must immediately be excluded from school until:
- Receiving a negative test result that confirms the symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19
OR
- For a minimum of five days and a maximum of 10 days until fever-free without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours, diarrhea/vomiting have ceased for 24 hours, and other symptoms have improved.
KEY SUMMARY POINTS
After 5 days, students and staff who test positive must also do the following:
- Continue to wear a well-fitted mask around others (including at home) for 5
additional days after release from isolation. If unable to wear a mask when around
others, the student or staff will be asked to continue to isolate for a total of 10
days. Schools have the authority to ask students or staff to complete the full
quarantine or isolation period if they have a history of NOT appropriately wearing
their masks.
- Avoid being around students or staff who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease.
- If masks need to be removed (e.g., for lunch), ensure 6 feet of physical distancing until 10 days after symptom onset or a positive test. Schools have designated lunch spaces for students returning from the shortened quarantine.
- Students and staff who return from a shortened quarantine and isolation will be expected to wear a KN95 mask in school for days 6-10 (the District will provide the
mask).
- Students may resume all activities as long as they remain asymptomatic and mask at all times when around others for 10 days from exposure.
- This includes lunch periods, extracurricular activities, and riding the bus.
- Schools are tracking who can return and when. We have also created a health screening form for students and staff to verify their symptoms.
- Upon their return, students and staff will be given a KN95 mask to wear for Days 6-10.
- Students have designated lunch spaces upon their return and a plan to distance themselves adequately from others.
TEST TO STAY
Per ISBE, for close contacts identified within the school setting during the school day, Test to Stay (TTS) is the preferred method because it keeps children in school and includes testing that will identify new positives quickly.
Students and staff that quarantined or isolated for 5 days do not have to participate in Test to Stay upon their return to school.
Students and staff deemed close contacts but do not have to quarantine will need to Test to Stay in school twice a week within a 7-day period.
This will begin the week of January 24.
TESTING:
Week of Jan. 17 - Due to limited test supplies:
- Transitioned staff testing to SHIELD
- Initiated a one-week hiatus on elementary surveillance testing
- Focused school testing on symptomatic students and quarantine classes
- Implemented updated tracking system
Week of Jan. 24
- Return to full testing schedule as supplies allow
- Implement K-12 Test to Stay in accordance with updated IDPH guidance
VENTILATION:
- Filters in ventilation system are being changed more often.
- We are using the best filters possible.
- We have increased outside airflow into our buildings as much as possible with our HVAC system.
- Large space air purifiers gave been placed in the hallways of high traffic areas for drop-off and pick-up
- The District has installed iWave air purifiers in all of its buildings
10.2 Illinois Educator Shortage Study
Highlights and key findings from the 2021 Illinois Education Shortage Survey (data collected since 2017).
The 2021 survey collected feedback in the Fall of 2021 from more than 660 school districts
(almost 80%) of the state
- 88% of schools say they have a teacher shortage problem
- 77% report the shortage is getting worse
- 86% of schools say they are seeing fewer applicants for positions than five years ago
- 93% expect an ongoing teacher shortage in the 2023 and 2024 school years.
Schools report their geographic location as the biggest negative factor for teacher recruitment followed by salary & benefits.
The number one reason schools report educator vacancies is retirement, followed by resignation.
SUBSTITUTE SHORTAGES
Shortages in substitute teachers have been a serious problem for the five years of the IARSS study. The latest study shows they are at a crisis stage, exacerbated by the pandemic.
- 80% reported using existing teachers to fill shortages during their prep time.
Throughout the five-year history of the teacher shortage, IARSS has seen fewer shortages with administrators than with classroom teachers. But that might be changing:
- 95% report seeing fewer administrative applicants.
- Retirement, promotion, and resignation are top reasons for leadership openings in Illinois Schools.
USD116 OPTIONS
- Out-sourcing subs
- Continue to explore other benefits for subs
ACTION ITEMS (Individual)
12.5 Agreement Housing Authority of Champaign County (HACC)/Urbana School District 116
Approval to enter into a data sharing agreement between HACC and Urbana School District 116 will be requested. APPROVED
(No data shared will ever be used to deny housing)
Superintendent Report
FREE AT-HOME TESTS
Residential households can order one set of four free at-home COVID-19 tests from the USPS.
•Limit of one order per residential address
•One order includes 4 rapid antigen tests
•Orders will ship starting in late January
Order at: https://special.usps.com/testskits
MEALS FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY COVID
USD is offering meals to students unable to attend in-person due to COVID reasons (positive test, close contact, etc). These students would otherwise be eating breakfast and lunch at school.
To make arrangements for meal pick-up, please contact Jonathan Schmit at: jschmit@usd116.org or (217) 385-3501.
January is National Mentoring Month.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, or learning more, there are two upcoming training dates.
Jan. 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Urbana Middle School
Feb. 20 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Champaign Unit 4 Mellon Building
Urbana School District #116
Email: contactus@usd116.org
Website: usd116.org
Location: 205 North Race Street, Urbana, IL, USA
Phone: (217) 384-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/usd116
Twitter: @urbana116