Two more staff members at Woodstock's Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center test positive for COVID-19

Two more staff members at Woodstock School District 200's Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center tested positive for COVID-19, a district official confirmed Tuesday.

The district had pushed back the start date for hybrid learning a week to Oct. 26 after two other staff members tested positive last week, district spokesman Kevin Lyons said. The additional positive tests will not push that date back again.

"We're working closely with the McHenry County Department of Health officials and continue to monitor the situation but so far, there are no plans to change the start of VDELC's hybrid week from Oct. 26 as announced last week," Lyons said in an email. "Preparation has already been moving forward and quarantines for these staff members don't necessitate additional delay."

The hybrid model for Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center, which serves pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students, will have some students back in classrooms four days a week. The rest of the district is switching to a hybrid model as planned Oct. 19.