Closing Schools 'Not A Decision That Was Made Lightly:' Pritzker

ILLINOIS — Despite talk about working with nearby Midwest states to reopen Illinois — and a stay-at-home order that currently expires on April 30 — Gov. J.B. Pritzker will announced Friday that all in-person instruction will be suspended through the end of the school year.

"I know that many have felt that this was inevitable," he said. "This was not a decision that was made lightly."

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Although schools are providing instruction through e-learning, Pritzker acknowledged that the decision could cause the loss of instructional time and exacerbate "summer learning loss," he said it was made with one question in mind: "How do we save the most lives during this very difficult time?"

Carmen Ayala, Illinois' state superintendent of education, said, "Will students return to school totally caught up? We’re not expecting them to."

Illinois will receive approximately $569 million in federal funding for prek-12 schools, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funding can help equip students with technology and internet access to enhance remote learning, support teachers in developing their remote instruction skills, and assist schools in continuing to provide meals to children and communities.

Each public school district will receive CARES Act funding proportional to the number of low-income students they serve. ISBE also will receive CARES Act dollars as the state education agency.

"Be assured, Illinois students are in good hands," the governor said. "Our teachers and our administrators are doing what they do best … remote learning looks different in our different communities, and that’s good."

Before issuing his stay-at-home order, the governor announced March 13 that all schools would be closed until at least March 30. By the end of March, that date had moved to April 30 as Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order.

Some Illinois schools have already canceled graduation and end-of-year events in anticipation of an extended stay-at-home order. That also means the cancellation of school sporting events, high school proms and other milestones for students, and classes won't resume until the fall — leaving parents to help facilitate e-learning for around another month.

Illinois colleges have also started canceling in-person summer school.

To teachers who did not get to say goodbye to their students before classes ended, "My heart is with you," Pritzker said.

To parents dealing with tough emotions and the added stress of helping their children through e-learning, he said, "I promise you, you will get through this." Pritzker urged anyone who is struggling to take advantage of the Call4Calm mental health service.

Those who are struggling with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and need emotional support, text TALK to 552020 for English or HABLAR for Spanish. This service is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People seeking assistance will remain anonymous and will provide only their first name and zip code, which enables the service to link you to a counselor in your area who is knowledgeable about available local resources.

To high school seniors who are ending their years in a way no one expected, Pritzker said, "I know you’re feeling sad about missing the rituals of senior prom, senior pranks, senior nights, and of course, graduation."

He added that there is room for those feelings, telling seniors, "You will talk about this for the rest of your lives, and you will go on to do amazing things. I am very, very proud of you."

To kids experiencing something generations before them never lived through, Pritzker also had a message.

"The hard things we did live through, we learned from," he said. "And you’re going to learn from this. You’re going to see what it looks like when the world comes together ... We will get to the other side of this, and the other side will be a place that. The best part is that you will be the ones guiding us forward."

Meanwhile, Illinois announced another 1,842 new cases of coronavirus and 64 more deaths, bringing the total number of cases statewide to 27,575. The death toll stood at 1,134 on Friday.

The additional deaths include:

• Boone County: 1 female 60s
• Cook County: 2 females 40s, 1 male 40s, 2 males 50s, 2 females 60s, 5 males 60s, 4 females 70s, 4 males 70s, 5 females 80s, 5 males 80s, 3 females 90s, 4 males 90s
• DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 3 males 80s, 2 females 90s
• Kane County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 90s, 1 male 100+
• Lake County: 1 male 90s
• Macon County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• Madison County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s
• Monroe County: 1 female 80s
• Randolph County: 1 male 80s
• St. Clair County 1 unknown 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
• Will County: 2 males 80s