Frequently Asked Questions

No, the schedule with four synchronous days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) and one asynchronous day (Wednesday) per week will remain the same for the rest of the semester. The second semester daily schedule will also remain the same.

Yes, attendance will be taken every day and will be recorded in Skyward. If your student is absent due to sickness, college visits, family vacation, etc. you need to call the attendance line and report your student’s absence.

*If your student is sick, but still able to participate in remote learning, we ask that you contact the nurses office to report your student’s illness.

Traditional grading will apply for assignments, projects and assessments.

Yes, students will be socially distanced 3 to 6 feet to the extent possible, per updated IDPH and ISBE guidance in all classrooms and common spaces. The allowances of social distance of 3 to 6 feet means that schools must require universal masking (IDPH).

Yes. Face masks are required for all students and staff in the building at all times, except as follows:

• When eating 

• When outdoors and social distancing of 6 feet is maintained

• For staff when alone in a classroom or office with the door closed

Students and staff members will be required to wear a mask while at school regardless of their vaccination status, per updated ISBE and IDPH guidance that mandates universal mask wearing in schools.

A close contact is still defined as anyone who was within 6 feet of a confirmed case of COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the infectious period (with or without a face covering). Students who are deemed to be a close contact will be contacted directly by a nurse or an administrator. A school nurse will determine the length of their necessary quarantine in collaboration with the local health department. 

IDPH, along with CDC, continues to recommend a 14-day quarantine for children, unless they have been fully vaccinated or have had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 90 days. If you are notified by a school nurse that your student has been identified as a close contact, please inform them of your student’s vaccination status or if they have had COVID-19 in the past 90 days., as this will impact their need to quarantine. District 155 will continue to collaborate with the McHenry County Department of Health for best practices regarding contact tracing.

Higher risk close contacts, including unmasked lunchroom companions, high and medium risk contact sports teammates and opponents, and music class participants may be assessed for contact less than 15 minutes, as determined by the local health department (IDPH).

Yes, regardless of whether or not your student is fully vaccinated or has had a positive COVID-19 test in the last 90 days, they need to stay home if they exhibit symptoms. If they receive a positive COVID-19 test, a parent should notify their student’s school, following which an administrator or school nurse will contact you regarding the necessary isolation procedures. Students should not return to school until they have been told to do so by a school nurse.

If your student exhibits any of the following symptoms, they should NOT come to school, regardless of their vaccination status:

• Fever of 100.4°F or higher

• New onset of moderate to severe headache, 

• Shortness of breath, 

• New cough, 

• Sore throat, 

• Vomiting, 

• Diarrhea, 

• New loss of sense of taste or smell, 

• Fatigue from an unknown cause, 

• Muscle or body aches from unknown cause

District 155 will continue to follow the IDPH COVID-19 Interim Exclusion Guidance regarding when it is safe to return to school after the onset of symptoms and/or a positive COVID-19 case.

District 155 will continue to follow the IDPH COVID-19 Interim Exclusion Guidance regarding when it is safe to return to school after close contact with a positive COVID-19 case. IDPH, along with CDC, continues to recommend a 14-day quarantine for children. A period of quarantine can be reduced to 10 days ONLY if a close contact becomes symptomatic. If a close contact develops symptoms, they must stay home at least 10 calendar days from onset of symptoms AND for 24 hours with no fever (with no fever-reducing medication) AND experience improvement of symptoms (IDPH).

Yes, if a doctor provides an alternative diagnosis, your student may be able to return to school with a doctor’s note detailing BOTH of the following:

1. There is no clinical suspicion for COVID-19 infection AND

2. Indicate an alternative diagnosis with exclusion consistent with this diagnosis (IDPH).

This information must be provided to and evaluated by the school nurse.

Yes, students will still be required to self-screen for symptoms and fill out the symptom self-certification form daily before boarding the bus and entering the buildings. Students will be required to present a green check mark upon arrival to school. If they do not present a green check mark upon arrival, they will be asked to perform a temperature check and certify their symptoms before entering the building. Students experiencing a fever or symptoms during the day will be sent to the school nurse.

If you are not receiving a link to the symptom self-certification form, please email distmail@d155.org.

Students will be required to temperature check before entrance to the building until spring break in an effort to protect those staff members that will not be considered fully vaccinated until Friday, March 26. After March 26, it is anticipated that more than 80% of our staff will be vaccinated and temperature screening will no longer be required for students, per updated guidance from IDPH.

Students will still be required to fill out the symptom self-certification form before arrival to school. An at-home temperature check will still be required on the symptom self-certification form. If they do not present a green check mark upon arrival, they will be asked to perform a temperature check and certify their symptoms before entering the building.

Common spaces such as cafeterias, study halls, media centers, auditoriums, etc. will be used to the extent that 3 to 6 feet of social distancing can be maintained, per updated ISBE and IDPH guidance. Students may have the opportunity to go outside during free periods when weather permits and can remove face masks ONLY when 6 feet of social distancing is maintained outdoors. 10-12 grade students will have open campus lunch hours.

Students currently on the waitlist to return to the building for 4 days per week of in-person learning will be able to transition from full-time remote learning when class sizes and classroom space allows for 3 to 6 feet of social distance between students. They will be notified by a building principal when they have been removed from the waitlist.

Students or parents who would like to change their instruction model should contact their building principal directly.

No, we will not be mandating this as it is not a requirement in the updated guidance from ISBE and IDPH. It is the responsibility of each individual family to quarantine as necessary after traveling.

Close contacts and necessary periods of quarantine for student-athletes as a result of participation in an athletic event is based on the risk level associated with their sport (not all sports have the same level of risk). If your student-athlete needs to quarantine as a result of participation in an athletic event, you will be contacted by the school nurse or a building administrator, who will collaborate with the local health department and follow all appropriate guidance.

Due to our transportation partnership with District 47, bus pick up times on asynchronous Wednesdays will change beginning Wednesday, April 7. Bus drivers or a school administrator will notify students of changes to their pick up times prior to Wednesday, April 7. Transportation pick up times for synchronous learning days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday will not change. If you have additional questions regarding your student(s)’ transportation, please contact the TJA transportation office at (815) 455-0558.

Each school will hold two outdoor graduation ceremonies on Saturday, May 15 at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. that will take place in your building’s football stadium. All seniors will be asked to indicate their interest in attending graduation in-person and will be able to select their preferred ceremony time by filling out a survey from their building principal. In an effort to follow all appropriate guidance from the CDC, IDPH, and MCDH and adhere to the current 25 percent capacity limitations, time slots will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.

Depending on the number of survey responses received and our ability to safely distance both students and family members in attendance, as well as the different capacities at each school’s stadium, each graduate will be allotted four in-person guests. We are also working to provide links to stream both ceremonies and all student speeches for viewing off campus. In the event of inclement weather, both graduation ceremonies will be held on Sunday, May 16 at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. 

Each senior will receive an email from their building principal on Tuesday, April 13 with a graduation survey link to be completed by Sunday, April 18. The last day of classes for seniors is May 12, 2021. Seniors will be invited back to school for graduation practice on Thursday, May 13.

Seniors are invited to attend their school’s Senior Celebration as an alternative to the district’s typical off-campus prom. Current juniors may also be invited to attend, depending on COVID-19 mitigation efforts and gathering limitations at the time of the event. Each student attending will be allowed to bring one guest to the event. Students may bring a guest from another D155 school, but guests from outside of the district will not be permitted.

Seniors received an email from their principal with event details and a survey to complete if they wish to attend, so that our buildings can maintain appropriate capacity limits and safety mitigations as outlined by the CDC, IDPH, and MCDH. Safety precautions such as mask wearing and social distancing will be required at the event.

Food service will be available over spring break on Monday, March 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Crystal Lake Central High School (45 W. Franklin Ave in Crystal Lake) at the field house entrance off of Walkup. Parents or students will receive meals for one week.

Live student support will be available during teachers' office hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:55 p.m. Teachers will be expected to have office hours during their plan periods and may engage students online during the class period. Teachers are NOT expected to engage with students after 4:00 p.m. daily. 

Students may be scheduled to receive additional support during asynchronous learning on Wednesdays following the schedule below:

Students in our specialized programs (Functional Communication Skills, Functional Living Skills, Life Skills, and STRIVE) will have the option to return in-person daily on a modified schedule. Special education leaders will personally contact each family in these programs to finalize a daily schedule for their student.

Individual student programming questions should be directed to building Special Education Division Leaders.

(See Special Education & Related Services)

Counseling, speech-language, hearing, vision, orientation mobility, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, and psychiatric consultation are available in accordance with a student’s individualized plan. Providers will consult with individual students to determine plans for delivery of services.

Students will be supported by appointment, staff referral, teachers, students, and parents. Social-emotional curriculum will be delivered in a seminar structure through the Student Services and Wellness divisions. 

Parent education will be provided via: virtual presentations, webinar series, individual meetings, general consultation, and community based resources.

Staff support is available through Student Services, EAP, and community based resources.

The District 155 Technology team has implemented a new helpdesk solution by IncidentIQ. You can now access tech support with the click of a button.

From your chrome device, simply click the Tech Support icon in the lower system tray or bookmark chsd155.incidentiq.com and login using your d155 Google account. There are also Tech Support links available from the district and school websites under STUDENTS, STAFF, and PARENTS at the top right corner. If your device is damaged and you are unable to use it to submit a technology help request, you can search for and install the Incident IQ app on your smartphone. When prompted for district URL enter chsd155, then log in with your D155 Google account.

Hotspots for increased connectivity from home will be available for families who demonstrate financial need. To request a hotspot, contact your building principal’s secretary.

Yes, you can get a refund if you no longer want a parking pass for the 2020-21 school year. Please contact the dean’s office at your school.