DeKalb School District 428

The DeKalb school board is considering eliminating one of its monthly meetings and moving the board schedule to a single meeting per month. School board president Sarah Moses said Tuesday the idea is to “free up the superintendent and cabinet to do work” needed in district.

In response to recent DeKalb School District 428 union concern regarding district leadership, Superintendent Minerva Garcia-Sanchez said Wednesday she’s met with the union “as least monthly and any other time they have requested it.” District officials also said an elementary school referendum would be a "last choice."

More than 340 local public school students were reported in quarantine because of possible COVID-19 exposure last week, and 22 more virus cases were identified in local schools.

Huntley Middle School teacher Kevin Boland said DeKalb teachers are “exhausted and feel disrespected” by what he said was lack of support from leadership amid ongoing pandemic-era staffing challenges. District leaders say a strategic plan to address concerns could include a 2022 referendum for a new elementary school.

DeKalb School District 428 is preparing for the launch of COVID-19 SHIELD testing, which will be used for weekly screening of staff and students who opt into the program, in about two weeks.

Since Oct. 1, more than 600 local students in Genoa-Kingston, DeKalb and Sycamore schools were reported in quarantine due to possible COVID-19 exposure, according to the most recent available data.

Kelly Zerby, PE teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, has been named teacher of the year by a state non-profit health organization.

A portion of Dresser Road will be closed from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for the DeKalb Homecoming Parade, according to a citywide alert sent by the City of DeKalb Wednesday afternoon.

Over the past week, more than 700 DeKalb and Sycamore students were reported in quarantine due to possible COVID-19 exposure, and 55 more virus cases were identified in DeKalb County schools according to data released Monday.

One week into a statewide mandate requiring Illinois educators to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, locals say testing access is still a challenge. Steps, such as pop-up clinics in DeKalb schools for the hundreds of staff who haven’t yet produced documentation, and plans for SHIELD PCR testing are in the works, however, officials said.