District 300 back in school after week of remote class

Du Quoin students returned to their classrooms on Monday after a week of mandatory remote learning to stave off any COVID-19 effects of family get-togethers over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Superintendent Matt Hickam said Monday that eight students are currently positive with COVID-19, the second highest number the school has experienced since the pandemic began. The most cases at one time was nine positive students, which occurred the week before Thanksgiving.

And while some of those nine were already isolating because they had been in contact with COVID-positive people, Hickam said if District 300 was in school last week some of those nine would have created a situation where a lot more students would have to be isolating themselves this week.

"Things went well today," Hickam said Monday. "Taking that full remote week proved to be a good thing.

"Having that week on full remote allowed a good number of our students who were already on full remote due to isolation (they tested positive or came in contact with a positive person) to return."

"Our staff list is very manageable," he added, saying he believes a lot of staff and faculty took the warnings seriously to limit Thanksgiving celebrations to members of their own households.

"It's kind of like having a fresh start," he added

He said the Illinois superintendent of schools has recommended that school districts consider going full remote for two weeks after the winter break, as well.

Hickam said whether District 300 goes remote for one week or two in early January will be brought up at next week's school board meeting, and he'll talk with the district leadership team about it as well.