Lake County Gazette

Fremont School District 79 issued the following announcement on March 13.

In our continuing efforts to safeguard the health and wellness of our students, staff, and the community, after collaboration with other area school districts and considering the recommendations of public health officials regarding limiting the gathering of large groups, Fremont School District 79 will be closing all of its physical schools and buildings beginning Monday, March 16. We have an anticipated reopen date of Monday, April 6. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution and as a precautionary measure to limit the potential spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) illness in our community.

In lieu of onsite classes, we will be implementing eLearning activities beginning Monday, March 16, which will adhere to our published eLearning procedures. These eLearning activities will take place from March 16-20, as well as from March 30-April 3. There will not be any eLearning days during our scheduled Spring Break (March 23-27). We will make sure students bring home all their devices, chargers, and any materials they will need to complete assignments. These eLearning days will not require additional school days to be added to the school calendar in June. 

As previously noted, all scheduled before-school and after-school activities, as well as field trips, concerts, and facility rentals are cancelled until further notice.

If your family is planning on taking a trip to a Level 2 or Level 3 country, we ask that you please contact your school’s principal to communicate your plans. For the safety of everyone, we request that you please adhere to the CDC’s guidance related to travel. To view an interactive map that shows current global travel advisory levels, please visit the following Department of State website.

In the meantime, we would like to provide a reminder of these basic steps that everyone should be taking to minimize the spread of illnesses:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

We are committed to following the recommendations of our public health officials and doing our part in taking preventative measures to mitigate the impact of this pandemic. The decision to close our physical schools and buildings is not one we are making lightly. We understand this may cause challenges for some families; however, we believe this decision is in the best interest of our school community at this time. We will continue to keep parents informed throughout this process. As always, the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and the community remains our top priority.

For the latest information on the Coronavirus, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, Illinois Department of Public Health website, and the Lake County Health Department website.

Original source can be found here.