Geneseo CUSD #228 - Where the future grows.

The following letter was shared on February 24, 2022: 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Our Board of Education (BOE) on Feb. 10 voted to immediately return to a mask-optional plan for students and staff. Geneseo Community Unit School District’s plan is designed to provide 1) a safe learning environment for all students and staff, 2) consistency and the opportunity for students to attend in-person all-day, every-day, and 3) the least restrictive learning environment.

We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic may be part of our lives for the foreseeable future and steps will need to be taken to achieve the three primary goals of our plan. Therefore, it is strongly encouraged and recommended that students who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised continue to wear masks while attending school, though it will not be required.

Please note that conditions requiring masks to be worn by all students and staff may occur and could be enforced to increase the likelihood of continuing in-person learning, which is acknowledged as a local board decision in the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by 7th Judicial Circuit Court on Feb. 4. A brief pivot to remote learning may also become necessary due to reasons related to COVID-19.

We look forward to finishing the final 54 school days of the 2021-22 school year strong! It will take all of us to achieve this goal. Let’s work together to keep our students learning in their classrooms, competing on their fields, and performing at their concerts. Our students are counting on us.

Dr. Adam Brumbaugh

Superintendent

Geneseo Community Unit School District #228

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. Will families be required to continue to daily self-certify their child(ren) for symptoms?
   1. Yes. Parents and guardians continuing to be faithful in keeping sick students home is the single most important part of our plan. If your child is sick, please keep them home and communicate with our school nurses. 
2. Are masks optional for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year?
   1. With the recent Circuit Court’s TRO, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) rejecting an emergency rule proposed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Appellate Court inaction, the decision on the wearing of masks is for now a local board decision. It is our desire to remain mask-optional, particularly if the data continues to trend in the right direction nationally and locally.
3. Will Geneseo contact trace during the remainder of the 2021-22 school year?
   1. No. Under the language of the TRO and the inaction by JCAR, we will not be contact tracing.
4. What about sports for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year?
   1. We enjoyed highly successful winter sports seasons and we anticipate full spring sports seasons as well.
   2. Protocols for our middle school and high school sports programs will be directed primarily by IHSA and the Western Big 6 Conference.
   3. If a host for an away competition requires their students to wear a mask, we will comply with the hosts’ request.
5. What about transportation and field trips?
   1. The CDC language is clear that masks must be worn by all riders, regardless of vaccination status. This will be an expectation to ride the bus.
   2. If a host/venue for a field trip requires visitors to wear a mask, we will comply with the hosts’ request. Attending field trips is a privilege and we will be respectful guests. 
6. What about students or staff who test positive for COVID-19? When can they return to school?
   1. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the individual will be excluded from school for 10 days. If the student wishes to return to school early (day 6 at the earliest), the student will be required to wear a mask at all times, except while eating and drinking, through day 10. A student’s due process has not been violated as a part of this action and wearing a mask is only a requirement if the student requests to return to school before day 10. This is aligned to and consistent with CDC and IDPH guidelines. If someone tests positive, then:
      1. You must be excluded from school and school activities for 5 days. The first day of symptoms or test date (if no symptoms) is day zero, then 5 days thereafter.
      2. You may return to school and school activities on day 6 if symptoms are significantly improving and you are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.
      3. You must wear a mask properly when around others and during lunch while not eating and maintain 6 ft of social distance.
7. Will Geneseo offer a fully remote option for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year? 
   1. Yes, but only under the limited conditions set forth by the State Superintendent through the amended school code. It reads: “Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, all schools must resume fully in-person learning for all student attendance days, provided that, pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/10-30 and 105 ILCS 5/34-18.66, remote instruction be made available for students who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine or who are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, only while they are under quarantine consistent with guidance or requirements from a local public health department or the Illinois Department of Public Health.”
8. Will Geneseo require social distancing for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year? 
   1. Depending on the classroom teacher or learning environment, student desks may be separated to the greatest extent possible or they may be close together for classroom activities or labs.

Each building presents unique challenges due to its demographic, space, and schedules. Therefore, each building will provide any additional building-specific information with staff and families. If you have questions, please reach out to your building principal or email covidquestions@geneseoschools.org.

RESOURCES
CDC COVID Data Tracker

Henry County – Vaccine & Risk Tracker

Northwestern COVID dashboard