End of year message from Dr. Connolly

June 8, 2020

Topic: Student Learning

The message below was sent to families of CCSD21 students. Parents or guardians that did not receive this message should contact their child’s school to ensure an up to date email address is on file.

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:

  1. There will be greatly enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols in all schools.
  2. There will be a great emphasis on hygiene, frequent handwashing, and use of hand sanitizer in all classrooms.
  3. Social distancing will be part of any school experience.
  4. The way we have done things in the past (bus transportation, lunch, after school activities, etc.) may not look the same as the way we will do them in the future.
  5. The rate of infection, guidance from the Illinois Department of Health and Illinois State Board of Education, and availability of effective treatments and or vaccines will play a major role in determining how our schools will operate.
  6. It is a distinct possibility that we will experience periods of in person schooling and distance learning next year.
  7. Decisions will be made with the health and safety of the students, staff, and families of CCSD21 at their center.

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