Oswego School District sets remote planning day for teachers following second vaccine dose

Oswego School District 308 has announced that Monday, March 1 will be a remote planning day for district teachers due to the potential for a high number of teacher absences the day after 1,400 district teachers and substitutes are scheduled to receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine through the Kendall County Health Department.

“The health and safety of our students and staff remains our district’s top priority, one step we’ve taken is to make the COVID-19 vaccine available for all our staff, in partnership with the Kendall County Health Department,” a Feb. 19 letter to parents from the district states.

On Sunday, Feb. 7, more than 2,000 teachers received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in a mass vaccination event at Yorkville High School. As per health department guidelines, the second dose of the vaccine will be given to those who received their first dose Feb. 7, in a similar event to be held Sunday, Feb. 28, also at Yorkville High School.

Nearly 1,400 of those teachers who received their first vaccine dose Feb. 7 work for District 308, the letter explained.

“The week prior, the health department hosted several smaller vaccination clinics in our district, which brings our total to over 2,000 staff vaccinated,” the letter continued.

Following post-vaccination studies monitoring the symptoms of those who receive the second dose of the vaccine, district officials have decided to use a state-allowed remote planning day March 1.

“While post-vaccination studies indicate some individuals will likely not experience any symptoms, or very mild symptoms following the second vaccination, there may be many who are feeling unwell for the day or two following the second injection,” the letter reads.

“In order to best prepare for the potentially large absence of teachers, staff and substitutes on the school day immediately following the second dose of the vaccine, Monday, March 1 will be used as a remote planning day.

“Students will use the day to complete previously assigned work, there will be no new assignments or attendance taken on this day,” the letter continued. “The remote planning day will not add any additional time to the end of the school calendar, as directed by the Illinois Board of Education.”