Dear District 39 Community,
District 39 continues to monitor the quickly evolving situation regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus). While we remain fortunate that there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in our school community, we continue to take the necessary precautions to keep our students safe, healthy and engaged in their learning.
Given the guidance issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to reconsider non-essential large group gatherings as well as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of Coronavirus as a pandemic, we feel it is in the best interests of our school community to significantly reduce public access to our buildings for all non-essential school events.
Therefore, effective today, Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 4:30 p.m., all afterschool programs and events taking place within our district schools will be canceled or postponed until after March 20, 2020. Activities involving only District 39 students and staff within our schools will be allowed to proceed. Individual schools will follow up with more specific information about cancelled events at their schools. In addition, all non-essential visitors to our school buildings will be restricted. Only students and staff will be allowed to enter our school buildings beyond the front foyers, except for those individuals with pre-scheduled essential appointments.
We made this decision to cancel non-essential events after carefully considering all information available to us, in collaboration with our local governmental partners throughout Wilmette, and with the health and safety of our students as our foremost priority. Our goal in taking this step is to limit potential outside visitor exposure while continuing to provide our students with uninterrupted instruction during the school day. At this time, school remains in session for students; however, District 39 is developing potential e-learning plans as preparedness for the possibility of future school closure.
I understand that this decision may be disappointing for families and students, particularly to those involved with the production of Frozen Jr. at Wilmette Junior High School, the McKenzie Variety Show, athletics, performing arts, clubs and other special functions scheduled within our schools. We will continue to closely follow situational updates from the CDC, the IDPH and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and apply guidance from these organizations as we monitor the situation and plan for preparedness in support of the health and safety of our students and staff. We appreciate your support and understanding in light of this decision.
Your partner in education,
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Kari Cremascoli, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Wilmette Public Schools District 39
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