Dear Parents and Guardians, 

On January 7, 2022, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the DuPage County Health Department announced that they have adopted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for schools that changes the isolation and quarantine period. 

Effective the week of 1/10/2022, Glenbard High School District 87 will implement the updated guidance. Therefore, staff and students’ return date from quarantine and/or isolation may change. Your new return date will be relayed to you via email so our nursing staff can apply guidance to each case and accommodate lunches. These emails will be sent on 1/10/2022. You must wait for this email before returning (you or your student) to school.

If a staff member or student is experiencing symptoms, they should not return early.  The school nurses will advise on the return date. Please report the symptoms to your school’s health office so they can advise you on the proper return date.

The mask requirements have not changed. Proper fitting and wearing (covering the nose and mouth) masks are still required.

Specific changes from the Illinois Department of Public Health can be found here.  They include:

A change to the number of isolation days from 10 days to 5 days. Isolation should occur when a person is diagnosed positive for COVID-19. 

1. A person (regardless of vaccination status) is diagnosed positive for COVID-19.
2. A person is fever free for 24 hours, free of vomiting and diarrhea for 48 hours, and symptoms have improved.
3. The days are calculated as Day 0 being the date symptoms started and if no symptoms, the date of testing.  Day 1 is the next day and return is then Day 6.
4. Masks should continue to be worn  when  around others (including at home) until day 10. 
5. Avoid being around other people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease throughout the 10 days.
6. If the mask is removed for lunch, 6 feet social distance must be maintained until the 10 days expires or a negative test is taken (and reported to the nurse’s office).
7. If these steps cannot be adhered to, the entire 10-day isolation period should be observed.

A change to the number of quarantine days for close contacts. Quarantine should occur when a person is exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19. 

1. A person who is 18 or older and fully vaccinated (complete series of primary shots AND a booster when eligible) does not need to quarantine unless symptoms appear. 
2. A person 18 or older is eligible for the booster 5 months after the primary series is completed.
3. A person 5-17 years of age who is fully vaccinated (complete series of primary shots at least 2 weeks prior to the date of exposure) does not need to be quarantined unless symptoms appear. 
4. If symptoms appear after the exposure, they should isolate until a test confirms their status.

If the above is not verified, then

1. The person should quarantine (stay home and mask  around others) for 5 days (day 0 is day of exposure).
2. If symptoms appear after the exposure, they should isolate until a test confirms their status.
3. Test on Day 5 if possible.
4. If symptoms appear after the exposure, they should isolate until a test confirms their status.
5. If return on day 6 occurs and the mask is removed for lunch, 6 feet social distance must be maintained until the 10 days expires or a negative test is taken (and reported to the nurse’s office).
6. If these steps cannot be adhered to, the entire quarantine period should be observed. 

Please refer to the Illinois Department of Public Health guidance for more details.  Our schools will be reaching out via email on 1/10/2022 to identify new return dates for anyone who is already isolating or quarantining.  Please wait for these emails before contacting the school for a new return date. We will work quickly to reach out to each person individually.  For individuals who are recommended for isolation and/or quarantine moving forward, the new  guidance will be followed.

Free, voluntary testing is available at all Glenbard schools, and we encourage everyone to consider testing in order to keep schools safe.  Please click here for more information about SHIELD testing in Glenbard.

Thank you to all our Glenbard families for their cooperation and support in keeping schools safe for students and staff. This collective dedication is what makes keeping schools open and in-person learning our reality!

Sincerely,
David F. Larson, Ed.D.
Superintendent