Updated 1/13/2021 4:28 PM
Set to begin a hybrid learning model next week, Indian Prairie Unit District 204 is looking ahead to possible COVID-19 screening and vaccination strategies to support its reopening plans.
The voluntary surveillance test would not be diagnostic, but it could help identify potential virus cases among staff members and students in some grade levels, Superintendent Adrian Talley said this week. Other nearby districts, including Naperville Unit District 203 and Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200, are implementing similar screening procedures this month.
District 204 school board members are expected to hear a presentation Jan. 25 about the testing program, including the terms of a proposed contract and details pertaining to who will qualify.
School districts to roll out COVID-19 saliva screenings Several suburban school districts are planning to roll out a saliva-based COVID-19 screening program in hopes of reducing the transmission of the virus among students and staff members. Unlike the tests administered at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the surveillance testing adopted by districts such as Naperville Unit District 203 and Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 is not diagnostic but is used to detect high viral loads for early identification of potential COVID-19 cases. courtesy of the University of Illinois Naperville Unit District 203 is among the suburban school districts planning to roll out a COVID-19 saliva screening program administered through Safeguard Surveillance LLC. Here, samples go through a heat inactivation process after scanning to ensure they are safe to open and can be detected properly.
Schools need to reopen with teachers, and CPS needs to actually make sure schools are safe to reopen. Both those things can be true.
The challenge is that CPS just bought a bunch of air purifiers from Bed Bath and Beyond and called it a day.
But good luck spotting any.
That’s cute of CPS. Exactly where would they plan to find 1000 new teachers? It’s not like teachers are chomping at the bit to teach for CPS.
The actual studies from epidemiologists have shown that while being back in school is “safe” for students, it contributes significantly to community spread. Yes, the students are “safe” because they generally are asymptomatic at that age, so they don’t turn up as positive cases. But they take the virus home and spread it to their older relatives, significantly driving up community spread.
Competitive school board races set in DuPage County Indian Prairie Unit District 204, which includes Neuqua Valley High School, has 11 school board candidates running for four seats up for election in April. Daily Herald file photo
Updated 12/30/2020 7:49 PM
Interest is high in the school board elections this spring, as competitive races have emerged across DuPage County.
In several school districts, the list of candidates who filed nominating petitions by last week s deadline amounts to at least twice the number of board seats available.
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 has been leading the pack since early in the weeklong filing period, with 11 hopefuls vying for four open seats. But candidate fields have grown substantially in many other districts, setting the stage for highly contested races in Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200, Naperville Unit District 203 and more.
School board candidates flood ballot in Indian Prairie District 204 Indian Prairie Unit District 204, which includes Waubonsie Valley High School, has at least 10 school board candidates running for four seats up for election in April. Daily Herald file Photo
Updated 12/15/2020 7:50 PM
The school board election coming in the spring in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 has turned into one of the most competitive races on the ballot in DuPage County.
To date, only two incumbents have formally declared bids to keep their seats, but voters will still have to sort out a slew of challengers.
The election for four open spots on the board is currently an 11-way race just two days into the weeklong filing period for hopefuls to put their names on the April 6 ballot.