Woodstock District 200 pushes back hybrid start date for Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center due to staff COVID-19 cases

Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 pushed back the start date for hybrid learning at its pre-kindergarten and kindergarten building by a week Wednesday after two staff members tested positive for COVID-19, the superintendent said in a letter Wednesday to families.

Hybrid learning classes, with reduced numbers of students who will alternate in groups between remote and in-person learning throughout the week, will now start for Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center on Oct. 26 instead of Oct. 19 as originally planned, according to the letter, which was shared with the Northwest Herald by the district.

District spokesman Kevin Lyons said only kindergartners and pre-kindergartners are impacted by the decision. The remaining 11 schools in the district are still scheduled to open on Oct. 19, he said.

Lyons pointed to metrics recommended by the McHenry County Department of Health for school district officials to use as guides for when districts should add or cut in-person activity during the pandemic.

The county health department did not respond to an email Wednesday requesting comment on whether the situation would impact its recommendations for when schools should move forward with hybrid learning models.

"We are coordinating our efforts with the McHenry County Department of Health to promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the COVID-19 positive individuals to prevent further spread within our school and community," Superintendent Michael Moan said in the letter to families.

The staff members and students who are found to have "prolonged close contact" to anyone with a COVID-19 case will be asked to quarantine for 14 days, according to the letter. Close contacts will also receive a separate notification from the McHenry Department of Health, and a deep clean of the school building and disinfection of areas impacted by potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus will also be performed.

The district will also provide reminders to staff regarding social distancing requirements, Moan said in the letter.

The school district will monitor staff for signs and symptoms of illness and evaluate illness reports to "promptly identify possible outbreaks," according to the letter.