McHenry Times

McHenry Community High School District 156 Board of Education met Oct. 8.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

I. Call to Order and Roll Call  

The meeting is called to order at 6:00 p.m.  

Members Present: Amanda Lobbins, Nicole Morrow, Pat Arnold, Dawn Bremer, Ron Fischer,  Timothy Hying, Gary Kinshofer.  

Members Absent: None  

Others Present: Superintendent Ryan McTague; Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and  Instruction Carl Vallianatos; Director of Human Resources and Compliance Julia Pontarelli  and members of the Community. 

II. Pledge ofAllegiance 

III. Changes /Additions to the Agenda  

Comments – Version 2.0 Changed to 3.0 

IV. Audience to Visitors Who Wish to Address the Board of Education 

Comments - None 

V. Board of Education Presentation 

• MCHS Hybrid Learning Plan 

Dr. McTague began the presentation noting that our hybrid schedule is not new. Collaborating with teacher focus groups, parents and students our hybrid face to face schedule is basically what we presented in the summer. In June the ISBE released guidance to reopen schools for the 2020-2021 school year and the Governor has been encouraging schools to reopen if they can implement the ISBE guidelines and IDPH requirements to do so safely. Over the past two months the MCDH has been working with District Superintendents to develop return to school COVID public health metrics. This metrics use the following variables incident rate, test positivity, hospital admissions, and weekly count of new cases to determine if a district can operate in a digital, hybrid, or full in-person learning model. The MCHD metrics are only one factor in the decision-making process to open schools. Districts must still comply with all ISBE guidance and IDPH requirements. District 156 is confident we are able to comply with the guidance and requirements and open our buildings for in-person instruction under a hybrid learning model. 

Our hybrid plan has been modified to align with D15 to keep our community families on the same schedule and better coordinate our transportation needs. We have amended our original return date under the hybrid model to November 4 to better coincide with District 15 return date of November 9. This change will also allow the district to facilitate a freshman program during the last week in October (something our parents requested). 

Mr. Vallianatos discussed how the proposed hybrid plan increases synchronous instructional minutes for every student and models a high school blended course. This model also allows for a seamless transition back to our digital learning model, if conditions on the ground change and we need to go back to remote learning. We will provide a synchronous remote alternative for those students who are unable to come back to school in-person. Students and teachers who are sick or may be quarantined will have the option to continue the learning process remotely on synchronous days of instruction. 

Mr. Vallianatos discussed that face-to face days (in school) of synchronous learning will include activities and intervention, connection with teachers and staff, hands on elements of courses, lab experiences and assessments. When students are asynchronous (at home) they will engage in Schoology planned activities, assignments, projects, papers and research time. All classes, students and teachers will meet digitally every Friday. In addition, our WIFI access has been enhanced and we discounted WIFI options from comcast on our website. The District has purchased over 50 hotspots to ensure every student has WIFI access. 

The school day schedule has been shortened to allow for enhanced sanitation of all spaces throughout the afternoon and evening. Teachers will have additional time in the afternoon to conduct virtual or physical office hours and digital planning. The shorter days will also result in less time that students are required to wear masks. 

Our nurses and building administration, in conjunction with the McHenry Department of Public Health, have developed a comprehensive COVID Response Plan which we have tested and put into practice already this year. Parents will be required to self-certify daily that their student(s) are coming to school without a fever and COVID like symptoms. Students who do not selfcertify will be screened upon entering the buildings. Hand sanitizer is in every classroom and touchless dispensers have been installed throughout the hallways and common areas of the buildings like the cafeteria. Key areas will be continually cleaned throughout the day (i.e. restrooms, cafeteria). Classrooms and other common areas are being reconfigured to comply the 6’ social distancing rule and limitations on gatherings. Finally, hallways and locker access will be closely monitored to keep students moving during passing periods. Locker access will only be available in the morning and dismissal.  

In the coming weeks Principals will send out building-specific East & West Campus Return to School Plans that they will share with their campus communities. The plans will include information about schedules, lockers, self-certification, transportation, cleaning protocols, student expectations, operations, and basic logistics. 

Dr. McTague thanked the Board, teachers, and school community for their continued patience, flexibility, and support as we take the next steps to safely bring our students back to our buildings so they can reconnect with their teachers, our school community, and each other. 

For the FULL HYBRID RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN, please see the following link: https://coredocs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/958601/BOE_Presentation_Octob er_8__2020_-_Hybrid_Learning_Plan_2.0.pdf  

VI. Business 

• MCHS Hybrid Learning Plan (Discussion / Action) 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Education of Mc Henry School District 156, McHenry, County, Illinois, as follows with respect to the continuing operation of the District’s offices, facilities, programs and schools for the 2020-21 school year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: 

1. The plan for continuing operation of the District’s offices, facilities, programs and schools for the 2020-21 school year, substantially in the form presented by the Superintendent and entitled “MCHS Hybrid Learning Plan” and dated October 8, 2020. 

2. The Superintendent and the Superintendent’s designees are hereby authorized and directed to implement and enforce the Plan and are further authorized to require students, staff, parents, visitors and other participants in the District’s programs to comply with the Plan and with the directives of the Superintendent and the Superintendent’s designees implementing and enforcing the Plan. 

A motion was made by Mr. Hying, seconded by Mrs. Lobbins to approve the MCHS 3.0 Hybrid Learning Plan Resolution. 

Upon the motion being put to a roll-call vote, members of the Board of Education voted as follows: 

AYES: Mrs. Lobbins, Mrs. Morrow, Mr. Arnold, Ms. Bremer, Mr. Fischer, Mr. Hying, Mr. Kinshofer 

Whereupon the President ruled the motion carried.  

VII. Adjournment 

A motion was made by Ms. Bremer seconded by Mrs. Morrow to adjourn at 7:02 p.m. 

The motion carried unanimously.

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/973350/10.08.2020_Special_Board_Meeting_Minutes.pdf