Mar 22, 2024
Topic: Student Learning
June 8, 2020
Dear CCSD21 Parent or Guardian,
As we close the 2019-2020 school year, I think we can all agree that it was one for the record books. We started with celebration and significantly cooler classrooms and new secure entrances and ended with great sorrow for not being with students in our schools while celebrating our end of school year traditions. Along the way, however, our students experienced academic growth and learning and formed positive relationships and life-long memories.
Looking to the coming school year and in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we know it will look very different than what any of us would have expected. Unfortunately, while the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has shared guidance for schools regarding summer programming, at this time we have not received guidance from them about the opening of the new school year. School districts across the state have communicated the need for that guidance to come as soon as possible. We do not have a commitment from the ISBE as to when that guidance will be released.
I know all parents are planning for the fall and need to know what August will bring, and I commit to you that we will communicate those details as soon as we are able. I want to thank all of the parents who participated in our recent ThoughtExchange and raised valuable thoughts and questions which will help our staff plan for the opening of the new school year.
While it is hard to predict exactly what is in store for us, I think we can also make some assumptions:
Please know that while we await guidance from the state, we have formed a task force of over 70 members of the administration, faculty, and staff charged with developing plans and recommendations for the start of the new school year. The task force has been meeting since late April and will continue to meet throughout June. Once we receive guidance from the state, we will be able to determine which plans will work for our district and begin to communicate them with our families.
This is an uncertain and frustrating time for us all. I deeply appreciate your understanding and flexibility and look forward to updating you throughout the summer. We will continue sharing messages with parent email addresses, social media, and on our website, www.ccsd21.org.
Respectfully,
Dr. Michael Connolly
Superintendent