Early Dismissal on Friday (1/14) WH 100pm, HS 105pm, WASH 115pm, MMS 120pm, NO School on Monday (1/17) for MLK, No COVID Testing Monday at Lincoln School #GoSages
Our schools did see an increase in COVID cases among students and staff members last week compared to December. We are hopeful that we can get through January and then see a downward COVID trend in Piatt County and the State of Illinois. We will continue to do whatever it takes to keep our schools open safety – our biggest challenge will come if we see a spike in employee cases that we cannot manage. 96% of our employees are vaxed, but Omicron is a contagious version of COVID and it breaking through the vax. If needed we will make decisions on closures by classroom, grade level, or building instead of by the entire school district. The CDC/IDPH released new guidance this week detailing reduced five day quarantines that have been in effect this week. We have been informed that the local health department will no longer be doing contact tracing and that the state health department is overwhelmed so we will once again do contact tracing starting on Monday, January 10 in the same way we did it in the first semester. All close contacts will be contacted by the school with required exclusions. We started our in-district testing program this week at Lincoln School. We are doing 20 tests per day, Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu11AM-2PM. Enter the doors off of Wilson Street.
COVID Data Counts 1/7/2022 --> https://5il.co/141w1
Weekly COVID Data Counts 12/10/21 --> https://5il.co/132xz
Weekly COIVD Data Counts 12/3/21 --> https://5il.co/12rew
Weekly COVID Data Counts --> https://5il.co/11v0u
Weekly COVID Data Counts 11/5/21 --> https://5il.co/11ksy
COVID Weekly Data Counts 10/29/21 --> https://5il.co/11b54
COVID Weekly Data Counts 10/22/21 --> https://5il.co/10zuo
COVID Weekly Data Counts 10/15/21 --> https://5il.co/10l04
COVID Weekly Data Counts --> https://5il.co/zx1v
COVID Weekly Data Counts 9/24/21 --> https://5il.co/zlx7
COVID WEEKLY Data Counts 9/17/21 --> https://5il.co/z9rq
COVID Weekly Data Counts 9/10/21 --> https://5il.co/yt70
COVID Weekly Data Counts 09/03/21 --> https://5il.co/yjp0
Community Facility Open House on Wed, Aug 11. Meet in the Sievers Center for guided tours at 5PM and 6PM or stop by for a self-guided tour anytime 5-7PM -- masks are required for all when inside of school buildings.
We have revised our 2021-22 Return to School Plan to reflect REQUIRED masking for all individuals when inside school buildings per Gov JB Pritzker's executive order for schools. It's clear that the issue of required masking causes consternation among some adults, not only in Monticello, but all across the State of Illinois. I appreciate all of the feedback that has been received as well as the comments from parents at our School Board meeting held last week. As indicated at that meeting and since COVID began in March 2020, we will follow the IDPH/CDC guidance as well as the Executive Order. Frankly, the requirement to wear masks in schools is the best plan to allow our schools to be open five days per week for all students with the least amount of disruption. When fully masked, close contacts and quarantines are greatly reduced.
Our Piatt County COVID cases have seen an uptick in the last week. Unfortunately, our vaccination rate continues to lag - it is not debatable that vaccines provide a high level of protection against COVID as most individuals contracting the virus are unvaccinated and those that are vaccinated are seeing only mild cases. 90% of our employees are fully vaccinated! We will continue to promote getting the COVID vaccine and have arranged for Walgreens to be at MMS on Thursdays and MHS on Fridays from 730AM-830AM for eligible students to get the vaccine (with parent permission). More information will be forthcoming. We are also working with Walgreens to offer flu shots for all students at all schools on October 4 (permission slips will be sent out later). We will work with Kirby to provide employee flu shots on October 12.
It's time to move on to what schools really do well and educate our kids. All activities are still going on this year in schools - field trips, sports, open houses, music contests, and lunches will be pretty "normal". We are excited to have our students and teachers back in school on August 18. Elementary school class lists will be posted on August 11 at 8:00AM. The Special Board Meeting that had been scheduled for August 12 to review our Return to School Plan is canceled.
DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD FOR SCHOOL
You are able to register your child/children at your convenience. Payments can be made online or by bringing/mailing a check to schools.
REMEMBER REGISTRATION IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL THE FEES ARE PAID.
All NEW students will need to register at their school on August 5th (8:00AM - 6:00PM).
Washington School : PK - 3rd
White Heath: 4th - 5th
MMS: 6th - 8th
MHS: 9th - 12th
If you did early registration as a new student last Spring, you should have a login and password. You can proceed with the online registration process.
Be sure you remember your username and password for School Insight/TeacherEase. This will be how you will access online registration. If you forgot your password, you can click on "Forgot Your Password" on the login page: www.schoolinsight.com. It will give you the steps to reset your password.
The Registration Packet can be found on our website.
The Monticello CUSD #25 will have a vacancy on the School Board effective June 30. Board President Gary Huisinga has submitted a letter of resignation as Board Member. Gary first became a Board member in 2001, was on the Board for 20 years, and has served as Board President since July 2016. The school board has 60 days from June 30 to appoint a replacement board member to fill the seat until the next election which will be held in the Spring 2023.
Monticello CUSD #25 is accepting letters of interest to fill the vacant seat on the Board of Education. Board Members must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of Illinois and the school district for at least the past year, and a registered voter. Interested parties should submit a letter of interest, a resume and any other information that may help the board evaluate the appointment in writing or via email to Superintendent Vic Zimmerman at 2 Sage Drive, Monticello or zimvi@sages.us. In order to ensure full consideration please respond by July 2. Due to the makeup of our current BOE, the new member cannot reside in the township/range 18N5E (SW part of school district – west of Market St and south of Lodge Park) as we have three members currently residing in that area. If you have questions, please contact Superintendent Vic Zimmerman (zimvi@sages.us or 762-8511) or Board Vice President Kevin Frye (fryke@sages.us).
Weekly COVID Data Counts --> https://5il.co/t4sc