Valley View Hybrid Students To Begin 4-Day Learning In April

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Students within the Valley View Community School District who have been learning on a hybrid basis will be spending more in-person time in the classroom after spring break as District 365U officials plan to expand the district's learning model in April.

The district announced Tuesday that students will begin attending in-person classes four days a week on April 13 when K-5 students as well as sixth graders, high school freshmen and seniors will begin the new schedule. Hybrid students in the 7th and 8th grades as well as high school sophomores and juniors will begin the four-day schedule on April 20, district officials said.

The changes were announced after Illinois health and education officials recently updated guidance on two health guidelines that will impact a district’s ability to meet in person on a more regular basis. Health officials determined that social distance guidelines would be reduced from six to three feet for students and fully vaccinated staff members.

In addition, capacity limits for in-person learning – including non-academic school hour activities such as lunch are determined by the space’s ability to accommodate social distancing guidelines as opposed to a set capacity limit number or percentage.

“VVSD has properly placed health and safety at the top of the priority list, while also finding creative and appropriate solutions to best meet the needs of our students within the requirements established by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education,” Board of President Steve Quigley said in a news release issued by the district on Tuesday. “We all want our kids in school as much as possible and we are committed to doing so safely.”

District officials announced the following key points as the new four-day schedule is set to begin next month:

• Bus service and lunch service will continue to be provided
• Mondays remain full remote learning days with early release schedule for all
• Recommendations/requests for on-site attendance for remote learners will be considered based on available space and student need
• Remote learners will continue to livestream into the classroom at the middle and high school levels
• Additional communication will be provided by the school buildings

District officials announced that the four-day schedule comes after the district has taken steady, incremental steps toward returning to the classroom. Superintendent Rachel Kinder said in the release that 80 percent of the district’s staff members have been vaccinated, which has allowed the district to move ahead with the next step in its plan.

“This is a huge step forward in moving toward our goal of returning all learners to our classrooms and requires that we continue our diligence in following health and safety precautions both inside and outside of schools,” Kinder said in the release. “It also requires that we continue to work together to ensure that we build upon our success, grow this spring, finish the school year strong, and come back together stronger than ever next fall.”