The plan will be reviewed and revised regularly, but no less frequently than every six months (taking into consideration the timing of significant changes to CDC guidance on reopening schools), review and, as appropriate, revise its plan for the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services.  Based on revisions; this page will include updated procedures.

Cicero School District 99 will seek and take public input into account in determining whether and what revisions are necessary. Public Input will occur at least bi-annually through B-PAC, Parent Leader meetings, Parent Coffee Talks, and district surveys. 

No. Governor J.B. Pritzker announced an Executive Order that requires that masks be worn indoors by all teachers, staff, students and visitors to PreK-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. 

Beginning March 2, Cicero District 99 will move to a mask optional policy for students, staff and visitors. Masking is recommended; however, it is still optional.

Mask optional status will only be permitted should the Town of Cicero's two-week rolling positivity rate remain below 6%. The District will monitor case numbers in Cicero through maintaining communication between the Town of Cicero and Cicero Health Department. 

Yes. All schools must resume fully in-person learning for all student attendance days, provided that, pursuant to ILCS 5/10-30 and 105 ILCS 5/34-18.66

Pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/10-30 and 105 ILCS 5/34-18.66, remote instruction will only be provided to students while they are under quarantine restrictions in accordance with requirements from the local public health department or the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

Students will only be placed in remote instruction upon receipt of medical documentation and/or COVID test results indicating a need to quarantine. 

Please note that student placement into remote instruction may take up to 48 hours to process. 

Determining Student Placement for Remote Instruction 

Remote instruction will be provided to any student who has a confirmed, positive case of COVID-19.

Student is a confirmed case (a person with a positive result on a COVID-19 PCR test)

Please continue to monitor your child's health at home. If your child has any noticeable COVID-19 symptoms, get them tested if needed. Children who are not sick and not showing COVID-19 symptoms, or previously considered a close contact, no longer will be provided a remote instruction opportunity.

For unique or extenuating circumstances, building administrators should reach out to their direct supervisors for confirmation. 

Test to Stay Protocol

Testing can be used to keep students in school when identified as classroom close contact through the Test to Stay protocol. This allows asymptomatic students to avoid quarantine by testing on days one, three, five and seven after exposure as long as they continue to test negative. 

Yes, when possible. Schools should maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students in the classroom setting. If this is not possible, distance to the greatest possible extent.

No. The CDC does not currently recommend schools conduct symptom screening for all students in grades K-12 on a routine (e.g., daily) basis. Parents, caregivers, or guardians ("caregivers") are strongly encouraged to monitor their children for symptoms of infectious illness every day through home-based symptom screening. Students who are sick should not attend school in-person. Please refer to the Decision Tree for further guidance. 

Yes, in consultation with the Cook County Health Department. The District and schools, as well as students and families, must work with local health departments to facilitate contact tracing of infectious students, teachers, and staff, and consistent implementation regarding isolation of cases and quarantine of close contacts. 

Beginning Monday, Feb. 28, Cicero District 99 will no longer contact trace. The district will pivot back to contact tracing should the Town of Cicero's two-week rolling positivity rate reach 10% or above.

Schools will maximize physical distance as much as possible when students are moving through the food service line and while eating (especially indoors). Location of lunch might vary from school to school.

Yes. All district facilities will be sanitized a minimum of once per day in accordance with recommendations by the CDC, IDPH and local health departments. For further information regarding solutions used, please CLICK HERE.

Some mitigating factors we follow are:

• Providing guidance and educational materials 
• Correct and universal wearing of masks should the Town of Cicero's two-week rolling positivity rate reach 6% or above.
• 3 feet of physical distancing, when possible
• Daily sanitizing and disinfecting of schools
• Enhancement to HVAC systems via increase in outside air, increasing in building operation, and increase in the air changes per hour
• Thermal scanners utilized
• Hand sanitizer stations throughout our buildings and in each classroom
• Disinfectant spray in each classroom
• Contact tracing should the Town of Cicero's two-week rolling positivity rate reach 10% or above. 
• Testing program
• Vaccination clinics

Yes. Screening testing and point-of-care testing is available for staff and students at designated sites. 

IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK or HAS SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, they should stay home. Please notify the school office and school nurse. Call your child's healthcare provider for testing and care. Staying home when sick with COVID-19 keeps COVID-19 infections out of schools and child care programs and prevents spread to others. If your child tests positive for COVID-19, the school nurse will provide you further information.

All reports of positive COVID-19 cases for both staff and students will be reported to CCDPH and processed according to current CDC and IDPH guidelines for exclusion, quarantine, and isolation. Please see the Exclusion Guidance for current protocols. 

Beginning Monday, Feb. 28, Cicero District 99 will no longer require quarantining of close contacts. The district will pivot back to quarantining close contacts should the Town of Cicero's two-week rolling positivity rate reach 10% or above.

Masks will be required for all indoor activities. 

Beginning March 2, Cicero District 99 will move to a mask optional policy for students, staff and visitors. Masking is recommended, however, it is still optional.

Mask optional status will only be permitted should the Town of Cicero's two-week rolling positivity rate remain below 6%. The District will monitor case numbers in Cicero through maintaining communication between the Town of Cicero and Cicero Health Department.