Students were scheduled to return to campus for hybrid learning next week, but Leyden High School District 212 decided to delay the date by two weeks, citing rising COVID-19 cases in the area.
General education students were initially scheduled to return to campus on Nov. 2 at 25% capacity, but the date has now moved to Nov. 16.
Superintendent Nick Polyak said when the plans were first announced several weeks ago, the public health data showed a more promising situation.
“At that time, our local metrics related to the regional positivity rate and local spread of COVID-19 were declining and we were excited to move into our hybrid models and get kids back in our buildings,” Polyak said in a letter to the community Friday. “Since that announcement, unfortunately, we have seen those metrics trend in the wrong direction.”
On Nov. 16, Leyden plans to return students to campus in a hybrid model at 50% capacity, which would mean students attend twice a week in 15-person classes.
Because some students opted to continue remote learning, the district expects to safely accommodate them at 50% capacity, rather than beginning at 25%, Polyak explained in the letter. At last week’s board meeting, Polyak estimated that roughly a quarter of Leyden parents opted out of returning their students to campus.
Though general education students won’t be returning until Nov. 16, around 60 to 70 students in English language learning classes, special education services and those in the Bridge, Transition and LIFE programs returned last week. Those programs will continue onsite, and individual students can still sign up to study on campus if they need better internet or a quiet place to learn, Polyak said.
Polyak said parents should expect an update Nov. 6 about hybrid learning.
“We will continue to monitor our local metrics related to this virus and that will always drive our decision-making,” Polyak said. “… Thank you for your patience and your partnership as we navigate this strange school year together.”
akim@chicagotribune.com
