Greetings District 161 students, families and staff!
We have simultaneously come to the end of the 2nd quarter of the school year and the
beginning of Winter Break! We will be excited to welcome all of the students back to remote
learning on Monday, January 4th. That date is important not only because we return to school,
but also because the District 161 Board of Education will be meeting that evening to discuss
the specific in-person reopening plans and the upcoming timeline for implementation. There
are several important dates that I would like you to consider over the next few weeks
- 1/4/21: Board of Education meeting to discuss reopening plans;
- 1/5/21: Parent communication and survey to select an in-person or remote option;
- 1/10/21: Parent survey window closes;
- 1/25/21: Remote from school, self-contained special education, PreK / EC classes
- return;
- 1/27/21: Parents will be notified of program placement and whether or not school will
- return in-person on 2/16/20;
- 2/16/20: Tentative return to school in-person
We are well aware that the COVID-19 numbers in our area are high and the impact on our
families and staff members has been immense. My heart goes out to all of you who have been
impacted by this virus. As we work toward a decision on returning to school in-person, we will
continue to use science and common sense to guide us
I truly hope that you can enjoy the upcoming holidays safely and securely with your families. I
am hopeful that the COVID-19 numbers will decrease as we move into January and that we
can begin to welcome all of your smiling faces into our schools in February
Warmly,
Dr. Dana Smith, Superintendent