PEORIA, Ill. — The Peoria Public Schools Superintendent announced a plan at Monday night’s board meeting to bring certain students back into classrooms.
Under Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat’s plan, early learners (K-1) and K-12 self-contained special education students could return to a form of in-person learning on Oct. 26.
If the plan is put into action, students would return to class in a hybrid model.
In the hybrid model, half of the students would be split while alternating days to maintain social distancing protocols.
Schedules are still being examined to find the best option for K-1, while the A/B schedule is the plan for K-12 self-contained special education students.
All K-1 families would be given the option to select virtual or in-person learning.
“I would say we are in this space, on this route, where we can bring some students back,” said Kherat.
Multiple board members said they would like the timeline to be moved forward to see students in classrooms sooner, if possible.
Cases per 100,000 and positivity rate are being considered by Peoria Public Schools to bring students back to classrooms.
Under current circumstances, with Peoria experiencing 134 cases per 100,000, Kherat says some students are able to be brought back.
If new cases per 100,000 were over 150, no students would be able to be brought back under the return plan.
Ideally, the positivity rate would be under 5% for students to return, said Kherat. Peoria County currently sits at just over 5% for the last two weeks.
