New Trier High School Ready To Resume In-Person Instruction

WINNETKA, IL — In-person instruction is due to resume at New Trier High School this week, with the first group of students who have opted for a hybrid of remote and on-site learning scheduled to return to campus Tuesday.

With a maximum capacity of 25 percent, there will be fewer than eight students per classroom on the Northfield and Winnetka campuses at this stage, according to the district's reopening plan.

Students with last names starting with the letters "A" through "E" are allowed to attend Tuesday and Wednesday and those with last names starting with "L" through "Q " on Thursday and Friday. Next week, participating students with surnames starting with "R" through "Z" will attend class, followed by those with last names beginning with the letters "F" through "K."

District officials established a reopening advisory board made up of administrators, school board members, faculty, staff, students, parents and medical professionals. The board is responsible for advising and providing recommendations to the board and superintendent about when to move between steps on a "ladder" to in-person instruction.

Metrics and thresholds developed with the assistance of the advisory board take into account data about coronavirus rates in the New Trier Township ZIP codes where students live, as well as those where staff reside.

As of Friday, the most recent data available, ZIP codes where district employees live had a seven-day rolling average coronavirus positivity rate of 3.9 percent, compared to 2.1 percent within the district.

An average of 90.2 new cases a week were reported per 100,000 in staff ZIP codes, compared to 40.8 in New Trier Township ZIP codes. If that rate reaches a threshold of about 100 new cases a week, the plan calls for a return to mostly remote learning.

There were three active COVID-19 cases among New Trier's 3980 students and none among staff, according to data released by the district.

Twenty-two students were quarantined, mostly from having close contact with a confirmed coronavirus case. Thirteen of the district's 715 staff members were quarantined, mostly due to having symptoms despite a test coming back negative.

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Parents of students taking part in the hybrid learning option in the fall quarter, which ends Oct. 30, must fill out paperwork every day the student will be on campus to certify they have no symptoms of COVID-19. Students must then present an electronic code from a health screening app to be admitted, according to the district.

"We can't wait to see everyone, and through these simple adjustments to our behaviors and actions we can have a successful, safe and uninterrupted year of live learning," Dubravec said last week in a video message.

Students must wear a fitted mask fully covering their nose and mouth at all times on campus when not eating or playing an instrument, according to Principal Denise Dubravec. Those that do not have a suitable mask will be provided one.

Bandanas, gaiters and masks with exhalation valves are not allowed because they do not met guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she said.

Administrators have set up social distancing markers, hand sanitizers, designated seats and Plexiglass barriers between teachers. Free periods may be spent in several designated areas, where students' locations will be logged to aid with any future contact tracing efforts, according to the principal.

In addition to signing off on district safety procedures, students must also sign the "Trevian Pledge."

"This pledge is your commitment to maintaining safe practices inside and outside of the school," Dubravec said. "By working together we can keep New Trier open and keep our students safe during the year."

See the latest available New Trier High School COVID-19 Data below »