97% Of New Trier High School Teachers, 88% Of Students Vaccinated

WINNETKA, IL — The New Trier High School board unanimously approved a return to school plan for the 2021-20 school year that administrators say presents the best opportunity to maximize in-person learning and minimize time spent in quarantine.

But district officials acknowledged, ahead of the vote at last week's special meeting, that their hands are tied with regard to some policies.

Masks must be worn indoors by students, staff and visitors, per Gov. J.B. Pritzker's executive order and directives to the Illinois State Board of Education to revoke the certification of schools that fail to mandate face coverings.

"It is a challenge," Superintendent Paul Sally told board members. "We all know we would rather be teaching, and students learning, without masks — can't wait for the day that we get there."

And while masks must be mandatory, vaccines cannot be.

"We are not allowed to mandate vaccination for students. Unless it's on the card [of] school requirements, that's where we are," Sally said. "That's just that situation that we have to deal with."

There are 10 vaccines required for students under state law, which allows for religious exemptions. But Illinois school immunization requirements do not include the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the only shot authorized for emergency use among children aged 12 to 15.

"Not too many weeks ago, I wasn't sure this is where we were going to be. But this is exactly where we are, and these are the steps that we need to take to keep our students safe and to be able to run school with as much in-person learning as we can," Superintendent Paul Sally told the board.

"As much as I wish it was different right now, as we are entering school, I am really looking forward to a great start to the school year. It is going to be wonderful to have kids in every day, full classes, extracurriculars and other student activities going on," he added. "I think our students will really, really be excited to be back."

At New Trier, 88 percent of students, 92 percent of staff and 97 percent of teachers are vaccinated, according to Associate Superintendent Chris Johnson.

"Our community has shown a commitment to their health, and the health of their colleagues and the other students," Johnson said. "We're glad that we've seen this type of participation in vaccinations."

Some procedures will be different this year depending on vaccination status, in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance about quarantine and distancing requirements.

Staff will be required to be tested regularly, initially on a weekly basis, as will students wishing to take part in extracurricular activities, administrators said. Testing begins the week of Oct. 23.

For vaccinated students and staff, some of whom have unvaccinated or immunocompromised household members, testing will be strongly encouraged.

This year, unlimited University of Illinois Shield saliva PCR diagnostic testing will be provided free, with the state covering the cost of the tests and the trained collector. New Trier has used screening testing, where families submit their own saliva samples, since fall of 2020. The U of I Shield test received FDA emergency authorization in February.

"Last year, even when it was available, it was more expensive than the tests that we were doing. But now, the state is covering this, and it's no charge for the test and no charge for the trained person," Board President Cathleen Albrecht said. "So that's a big bonus, too."

Sally said he hopes as many people as possible take advantage of the complimentary on-site testing program, which he said would help assuage concerns that the mandate might single out non-vaccinated people.

"The testing program that we're going to see is going to be filled with people whose status is unknown to anybody around," the superintendent said. "We do not want to identify [or] make someone stand out who's made any particular choice about COVID and the like. I don't think that's going to be the case with his testing program. I just don't think you're going to be able to tell."

Board member Jean Hahn said it was important to focus less on the disappointment over the continuation of mask mandates and other policies aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus and more on positive experiences of the past 18 months — like making personal sacrifices for the wider community and becoming more flexible amid uncertainty.

"I would be lying if I didn't acknowledge that I'm also more than a little sad that we even need to be holding a special meeting here tonight, as we find ourselves once again gearing up for another school year tainted by the pandemic," Hahn said. "I think, like all parents, I wish my sons could enjoy a completely normal year. But that being said, I think it's important for us all to the model the growth mindset we are asking of our children."

The board also approved a plan for the allocation of nearly $800,000 in federal funding via the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, money allocated via the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. At least 20 percent of the money must be allocated to programs that address learning loss associated with the pandemic.

"We certainly have students and families that are in all different places after and during this pandemic, and part of our transition is to make sure that we're supporting students as they come through, because we are trying to get closer and closer to normal," Sally said.

In addition to meeting students where they are — both academically and emotionally — district staff are committed to encouraging a positive community, the superintendent said.

"Also an important part of a positive school community is respecting the individual choices of students and families related to COVID-19," he said. "There are many choices that are being made out there. As long as they do not break school rules, our approach is: we respect that, and it's not an issue around that. So we will make sure that we're living that within our walls."