Arriving to School Precautionary Procedures

In This Section:

Face Coverings
- General Rule — Face Coverings Required
- When Face Coverings May Be Removed
- Reasonable Accommodations
- What Constitutes a Face Covering/Additional Resources
Symptoms of COVID-19 & School Attendance
Temperature Checks & Self-Certification
Student Transportation

Face Coverings

General Rule — Face Coverings Required

Sycamore School District acknowledges the continuing need to follow the Joint Guidance issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) with respect to health and safety protocols for the return to in-person instruction. We will review and implement any changes to district protocols as they become available. At this time, and in accord with current guidance, except for individuals younger than 2 years of age, any individual present in any building, facility or transportation vehicle (i.e. bus) owned, operated or used by the District, shall at all times wear a face covering, even when social distancing is maintained.

When Face Coverings May Be Removed

Face coverings may be removed when:

Individuals are eating and/or drinking in spaces and are stationary in spaces and at times so designated by the District;
Teachers and students are stationary and engaged in band activities necessitating such removal;
Individuals are outside and social distance (at least six feet apart) is maintained; or
Individuals are having trouble breathing.

Reasonable Accommodations

Individuals who cannot tolerate a face covering due to a medical condition or disability related condition, or who present other bona fide reasons for not being able to wear a face covering, may be permitted to utilize alternative options such as a face shield or other reasonable accommodation. The Superintendent or designee shall have discretion to determine whether an employee, visitor, or third-party individual qualifies for a reasonable accommodation. For a student with a medical condition or disability, the student’s education team (i.e. IEP team, 504 team, health plan team) will determine whether the student qualifies for a reasonable accommodation and the accommodation to be provided. As a condition to granting a reasonable accommodation, the District may require an individual to provide a physician’s note and/or other relevant information, documents, or certifications with respect to the condition or circumstance. Requests for reasonable accommodations from the face covering requirement shall be assessed in accordance with applicable state and federal law.

What Constitutes A Face Covering/Additional Resources

For purposes of this section, “face covering” means a cloth face covering, N95 mask, surgical mask, or other material that fully covers the nose and mouth and is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For additional information and resources regarding face coverings, please see:

Consequences for Violating Policy

An individual’s refusal to wear a face covering in accordance with this policy shall constitute a violation of the District’s applicable rules of conduct, and may subject the individual to disciplinary action and/or prevent the individual from entering the District’s buildings, facilities or transportation vehicles until the individual complies with this policy. Face covering designs and images must comply with the District’s Student Appearance Policy and must not disrupt the educational process, interfere with the maintenance of a positive teaching/learning climate, or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety and decency. The Superintendent or designee shall apply and enforce this policy.

Symptoms of COVID-19 & School Attendance

It is important for all Sycamore families to be aware of the symptoms outlined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

As a school district, we understand that school attendance is important, and we want your children to come to school. However, please keep your child home if they are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

The CDC and IDPH guidelines for students who are suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms, whether they are tested or not, state that 72 hours must elapse from the resolution of fever without fever-reducing medication and 14 days must pass after symptoms first appear.

This list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC will continue to update this list as they learn more about COVID-19.

Each of our schools will designate a safe, supervised area to quarantine any individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms. If a student becomes ill with COVID-19 like symptoms at school, they will be supervised by a student health professional until they are able to be picked up from school.

Finally, please note that this year, we will not be issuing awards for perfect attendance. The top priority of our school district is that your children are safe and healthy. If your child is sick, please keep them home.

Temperature Checks & Self-Certification

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in order to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our school community, Joint Guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health requires that every student undergo a daily symptom screening prior to utilizing School District transportation or entering any School District building. Parents/Guardians will be conducting this daily symptom screening prior to their student departing for school and reporting consistent with the parameters outlined below. Families are required to sign a form stating they will complete the self certification process prior to their student attending school in person each day.

As part of the daily symptom screening process, a parent/guardian will determine if their student is experiencing any of the following COVID-19 symptoms:

Temperature of 100.4 (or greater) degrees Fahrenheit/38 degrees Celsius;
Cough;
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
Chills;
Fatigue;
Muscle and body aches;
Headache;
Sore throat;
New loss of taste or smell;
Congestion or runny nose;
Nausea and/or vomiting;
Diarrhea; or
Any other COVID-19 symptoms identified by the CDC or IDPH.

By sending a student on District transportation and/or to school on any given day, a parent/guardian is certifying and verifying that their student has received a daily symptom screening and is not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

Student Transportation

Please review the following bus expectations with your children prior to the beginning of the school year:

Students will board the bus and fill the seats from the rear towards the front.
All students will self-certify prior to boarding the school bus. Details about self-certification procedures for our families are forthcoming.
Students will have assigned seats on the bus, with siblings of the same household being placed near one another.
All windows on the bus will be open to allow for sufficient air-flow throughout the bus. Students are encouraged to dress appropriately for all weather conditions.
Students are encouraged to maintain social distancing at their bus stops prior to the arrival of the school bus. Parents, please talk to your children about maintaining social distance between their classmates as they wait for the bus to arrive.
Drivers and monitors must wear approved and appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) and perform regular hand hygiene.
Drivers and monitors must complete a symptom and temperature check or self-certify prior to the start of their bus route.
Buses will be disinfected daily.

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