Last Friday, we posted the story below, which indicated that the Kane County Health Department had initiated a two week “adaptive pause” at District 300’s Hampshire High School.
After posting the article, we received numerous comments to the effect that KCHD had not required the pause, but that the district’s superintendent had made that decision on its own.
Our initial reporting was directly from a school announcement posted on the school’s website which opened as follows:
Yesterday, we were notified by the Kane County Health Department that Hampshire High School will observe an “Adaptive Pause” beginning on October 12 and ending October 22. This means all Hampshire High School students will not be allowed on campus for in-person instruction and will transition to remote learning from October 12 through October 22. Students are expected to return to Hampshire High School for in-person instruction on Monday, October 25th.
The Kane County Health Department is implementing the Adaptive Pause as a mitigation strategy to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Since September 28, Hampshire High School has had 37 positive COVID-19 student cases.
We reached out to KCHD to determine if they had, in fact, required the pause. We received a statement which indicates that while the District and KCHD had met to discuss the situation, KCHD had given three mitigation options to the District and the District itself had decided on the pause.
KCHD and D300 did meet to discuss the increase of COVID-19 cases and mitigation strategies. KCHD recommended three options for decreasing the spread of the disease which ultimately D300 decided on their best course of possible action (adaptive pause) to which KCHD sent a Mitigation Plan for the school to apply.
It is unclear as to why the District appeared to place responsibility on KCHD for the decision.
The Kane County Health Department is requiring Hampshire High School to move to remote learning for two weeks commencing Tuesday, October 12, according to a statement issued today by the school.
The KCHD is implementing the Adaptive Pause as a mitigation strategy to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Since September 28, Hampshire High School has had 37 positive COVID-19 student cases.
Hampshire has an enrollment of 1,647 students.
In its statement, Hampshire quoted the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Board of Education website:
Decisions for temporary closure of a school (“Adaptive Pause”) will be made by school leaders in consultation with the local health department. This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19
situation impacting the school. This also allows the local health officials to help the school determine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow further spread of COVID-19. As stated above, these decisions should be made locally, in collaboration with local health officials who can help determine the level of transmission in the community, and in conformity with CDC
guidance. Pursuant to the State Superintendent of Education’s declaration on September 7, 2021, schools must provide remote learning during an Adaptive Pause.
Hampshire indicated that football players will be allowed to play this evening’s game under the required KCHD testing protocols. In addition, marching band and dance will participate as scheduled utilizing COVID mitigation strategies such as physical distancing and masking, as appropriate.
Only immediate family members of students who are on the team or who are participating in marching band/dance will be permitted as spectators and will be required to wear a mask.
Students are expected to return to Hampshire High School for in-person instruction on Monday, October 25th.
