Updates from District 200 — August 6

District 200 Community,

Earlier this week, we sent a communication to add a Special Board Meeting on August 11th with the intention of giving the board an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the latest guidance from Federal, State and local health agencies regarding masking as a COVID-19 mitigation and how such guidance might impact the start of the school year.

On Wednesday, Governor Pritzker created a universal mask mandate for all schools in our State. As we shared immediately after this mandate was issued, our Ddistrict will adhere to this mandate. We recognize this decision by the Governor brings both comfort for some of our community members and frustration for other members of our community.

While we may not be where we had hoped to be as we begin another school year living in a pandemic, we are taking many positive steps to ensure in-person learning is sustainable this fall. We ask and hope that regardless of your perspective on masking, we all commit to helping students join together as they walk through the doors of our schools later this month.

In light of the recent mandate, the Board of Education has decided to cancel the August 11th Meeting as we do not need to have further discussion regarding masking as a COVID-19 mitigation. Our District and schools will be sending information out next week to our school community reiterating details, expectations and mitigations to safely start the school year. When we meet as a Board at our regularly scheduled meeting on August 18th, Administration will share this information with the Board, as well as any additional information on health guidance that may have changed or updated. As always, any questions our school community may have about our in-person learning plans can be directed to communications@cusd200.org.

Children look to the trusted adults in their lives to work together to provide structure and security. Our children have likely heard and seen the differences dividing our community. Our Board and District would like to encourage our community to listen to each other and offer empathy and respect, even when in disagreement. At our next Board Meeting on August 18th, we welcome the community to gather with the intention of listening, learning and sharing constructive ideas. As a Board, we expect and will enforce an atmosphere of decorum and respect for everyone.

Our community has been through so much these past 16 months. Now is the time to take the passion and energy to a joint effort in bringing students and staff back into our schools later this month.

Chris Crabtree, President
Rob Hanlon, Vice President
Dave Long, Secretary
Angela Blatner, Board Member
Susan Booton, Board Member
Brad Paulsen, Board Member
Mary Yeboah, Board Member
Dr. Jeff Schuler, Superintendent