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Archive for the ‘The New Normal?’ Category

Barrington schools offering students choice between in-person or remote learning

Posted in 220, Board of Education, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, The New Normal? on July 3, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Barrington Area Unit District 220 will be giving its students the option to return to school for the 2020-21 school year with in-person learning on campus or opt out and continue to do remote learning from home.

Barrington Area Unit District 220 is proposing two options for how students can attend classes in the 2020-21 academic year.

Similar to other school systems, District 220 officials this week announced a plan that would feature flexibility for students and families. The district is made up of eight elementary schools, two middle schools and Barrington High School.

The plan, set to be presented to the school board at a July 14 meeting, is based on guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health, district officials said.

While District 220 intends to hold in-person learning on its campuses this fall, a key component of its “Roadmap to Reopening” would allow also students to opt out and instead choose to continue remote learning, as was required during the statewide lockdown this spring.

District 220 board President Penny Kazmier said the proposal was formed after officials heard concerns from both sides.

Read more here.

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District 220 provides update on comprehensive “Roadmap to Reopening”

Posted in 220, Board of Education, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, The New Normal? on June 30, 2020| Leave a Comment »

“Barrington 220 is currently putting together a comprehensive Roadmap to Reopening guide for the 2020-21 school year, which will be based on guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health. In addition, the district is reviewing feedback from a survey administered to all parents earlier this month, and this week district leaders are meeting with parent representatives from all grade levels to receive feedback. Barrington 220 will present its Roadmap to Reopening at the July 14 Board of Education meeting and send it out to parents shortly after the meeting.

We understand some families may not feel comfortable sending their children to school this fall. All will have the opportunity to indicate if they would like to opt out of in person learning and choose to remain home for all Distance Learning. Any family that chooses to enroll in the all Distance Learning option will do so for the entire grading period (6-12 semester/K-5 trimester). Families will be allowed to change to in-person learning at the end of these grading periods. Families will have until Friday, July 24 to opt out of in person learning. More details will be made available in mid-July.”

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Barrington to hold Fourth of July community car parades, virtual patriotic music performance

Posted in Pritzker’s Rules of Order, The New Normal?, Topics Of Interest on June 29, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Most of the north and northwest suburban communities have canceled their traditional Fourth of July celebrations – which usually include parades, firework displays and more – because of concerns over the novel coronavirus pandemic, but Barrington is finding ways to celebrate virtually, socially distanced or both.

Barrington residents are encouraged to organize vehicle parades July 4 in their neighborhoods to show their patriotism and also hear a virtual concert. The village traditionally has an Independence Day parade on Main Street. This year the village is encouraging people to hold neighborhood car parades between dubbed “take the parade to the people,” according to the village website.

Police cars and the village’s antique fire truck are scheduled to join the activities intermingling with the events as well as Bob the DJ, according to the website.

Village President Karen Darch said in an email to Pioneer Press that celebration of the Fourth of July should not be diminished because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Read more here.

Related: “Barrington cancels July 4th parade and fireworks while postponing other summer events,” “Good questions deserve answers.”

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Suburban ADs discuss plans to return to sports

Posted in 220, Barrington High School, School Districts, The New Normal? on June 27, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Barrington athletes work out in small groups by following along with a video on the screen inside the stadium. The IHSA has approved small-group workouts as part of its return-to-play initiative.

Similar to many restaurants and businesses, local high school athletic departments have cautiously waded back to work this summer. The new normal, as permitted by the IHSA, allows for schools to offer voluntary strength and conditioning workouts. Sports-specific drills are not currently permitted.

Athletes have their temperatures checked at the start of each session and are asked if they have any specific symptoms. When training begins, they are required to maintain a social distance of 6 feet and train in groups of no more than 10 people, including the coach.

Glenbrook South athletic director Steve Rockrohr estimated 500 students are participating in workouts. At Barrington, about 225 students are participating, according to athletic director Mike Obsuszt. At both schools, the groups of 10 are co-ed and feature athletes from a range of sports. Rockrohr and Obsuszt said they think more students would have participated had additional sessions been feasible. 

Pioneer Press contributor Ryan Nilsson spoke with Rockrohr, Obsuszt and Timothy Christian athletic director Jack LeGrand to learn how the conditioning workouts were going. Stevenson athletic director Trish Betthauser answered the same questions via email.

Read more here.

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Barrington school district to hire director of equity, race and cultural diversity

Posted in 220, Board of Education, Property Taxes, School Districts, The New Normal? on June 26, 2020| 4 Comments »

Barrington Area Unit District 220 officials have created a new staff position to lead equity, race and cultural diversity initiatives.

The district plans to have the administrator hired in time for the 2020-21 academic season. Applications are being accepted for the job, which officials say was made possible through a restructuring of administrative positions and will not increase the size of the staff.

As part of the official job description, the director of equity, race and cultural diversity initiatives will have duties including promotion of an inclusive school climate and fostering healthy youth development.

In addition, the administrator will provide leadership regarding the development, coordination, facilitation and delivery of diversity-related programs, services and support for students and employees across District 220.

Another essential job function will be to lead a focus on social justice initiatives and cultural awareness.

Read more here.

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‘Guns are flying off the shelf.’ Permit applications up more than 500% amid coronavirus pandemic and George Floyd fallout.

Posted in Politics, The New Normal?, Topics Of Interest on June 25, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Take your pick. The pandemic, the police killing of George Floyd, the presidential election. Protests, looting, calls to “defund the police.”

Any one of such similar events historically has been enough to push some people off the fence, prompting them to finally buy a gun or add to their collection.

But with a wave of crises crashing across the country, more than 40,000 Illinoisans applied for a gun permit in a little more than two weeks this month, more than 500% over this time last year, according to Illinois State Police.

Gun sales are soaring at Mark Glavin’s gun shop in Elgin, from an average of 10 a day last year to as many as 200 a day this year. With so many gun purchases, he said, ammunition also can be hard to find.

“Take a full glass of coronavirus, shake in a shot of riots and another of this defund police notion, and everything goes crazy,” said Glavin, owner of Fox Valley Shooting Range. “Not to mention the backlog on background checks.”

Read more from the Chicago Tribune here.

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District 220 provides further updates on 2020-21 school year

Posted in 220, Agendas, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, School Districts, The New Normal? on June 23, 2020| Leave a Comment »

“This afternoon the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released guidance for schools on the 2020-21 school year.

This 60-page document has been much anticipated and will go a long way toward answering critical questions all of us share about what the 2020-21 school year will look like in terms of in-person learning, scheduling, transportation, wearing masks, social distancing and other measures intended to keep everyone safe and healthy, while also re-engaging students in the learning process.

Right now, we don’t have all the answers to those questions, as this document was released to school districts at the same time it was released to the public. Therefore, we kindly ask for your patience as Barrington 220 reviews this detailed guidance and implements the suggestions into Barrington 220’s preliminary Roadmap to Reopening, which is based on the five-phase Restore Illinois plan.

As you may know, last month Barrington 220 formed a committee which has already been discussing options. The committee consists of district administrators, teachers and support staff. In addition, administrators will be meeting with parents in the next couple of weeks to gain their feedback. Those conversations, along with the ISBE guidance, will help Barrington 220 put forth a plan that prioritizes the health and safety of our students and staff while maintaining a dynamic learning environment.

Thank you again for your patience, understanding, and flexibility as we prepare for the 2020-21 school year. We plan to communicate Barrington 220’s comprehensive Roadmap to Reopening next month.”

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Phase 4 of reopening Friday: What you need to know, and what doctors warn

Posted in Pritzker’s Rules of Order, The New Normal? on June 23, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Umpire David Baker watches as players take the field at a youth baseball game at Kimball Hill Elementary School in Rolling Meadows. Youth sports can resume under Phase 4 of Illinois’ reopening plan but with restrictions.

As the state makes a giant leap forward Friday when movie theaters reopen, youth sports resume and other activities curtailed by COVID-19 return with restrictions, health experts warn residents to take it slow.

Illinois is meeting all the health metrics, including declining hospitalizations and a 2% average positivity rate for COVID-19 testing, that will propel it out of the Phase 3 limitations.

But don’t toss your face mask, given that COVID-19 is spread mainly through droplets when people sneeze, said physician Michael Bauer.

“It is not all fine. It is not back to normal,” Bauer said. “Everyone wants it to be, but we are still in the midst of this pandemic.”

The Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital medical director, for one, doesn’t plan to watch a movie anytime soon, for example.

“To me, personally, I would have no desire to sit in an indoor space like that,” Bauer said.

Read more here.

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Drive-in movies coming to Hoffman Estates’ Sears Centre Arena beginning Thursday

Posted in Sears, The New Normal?, Topics Of Interest on June 22, 2020| Leave a Comment »

The parking lot of the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates will become a temporary drive-in movie theater starting Thursday with a showing of “The Goonies.” (Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer)

The parking lot of Hoffman Estates’ Sears Centre arena will become a temporary drive-in movie theater beginning Thursday night for a showing of the 1985 adventure comedy “The Goonies.”

The movie will be projected on a 70-foot screen, with audio provided through FM transmission, according to the company behind the effort, Chicago Drive-In Theater. The company launched earlier this month with screenings at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and showtime is 9 p.m. General admission tickets are $30 per car, or $50 for a preferred viewing location, and are available at www.chicagodrivein.com. Concessions will be available from a central stand as well as mobile units, offering soda, popcorn and candy.

Read more here, or go to Chicago Drive-In Theaters by clicking here.

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“Phase 4” of reopenings begins Friday

Posted in Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, The New Normal? on June 22, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Unless something dramatic happens between and Friday, everything from restaurants and bars to day camps for the kids will be opening for more widespread business. Examples include:

  • Offices
  • Retail and service counters
  • Theater and the performing arts
  • Zoos
  • Health and fitness centers

To view the complete list of operations and guidelines, click here.

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