NEWS
LHS PLANS TO OPEN FULL IN-PERSON LEARNING NEXT FALL Anika Raina
Jacob Short
the eight-period schedule. Dr. Koulentes explained that during the beginning of the pandemic, the district decided it needed to create a new schedule to accommodate remote learning. However, since the district is planning for students to go back to school full-time next year, they wanted to implement the pre-pandemic schedule to create a sense of normalcy. “We do recognize that there were a lot of people who liked our block schedule and elements of what we were doing with our pandemic schedules, but we didn’t have the ability to bring everybody together to talk about all the things we could do or all of the options we would have in a very quick amount of time,” said Dr. Koulentes. “We basically build our whole schedule for next year during the months of March and April and because we didn’t have the time to do a full-scale examination [of if the block or hybrid schedule is better], the district said we’re going back to what we did before.” The administration is still assessing what lunch Principal Tom Koulentes is hopeful that for the 2021-22 school year, things can return as close would look like, especially considering social disas possible to a pre-Covid-19 LHS. One goal the school has for next year is to accommodate tancing and a shorter lunch period. One option the students in the lunchroom for eating and study hall, but they are going to continue working district has been considering would be to have closely with the district and local health authorities to determine if this is a possibility. lunch release for all grade levels, but one major issue would be that lunch is only 45 minutes, making it difficult for students without a car on campus to As this school year draws to a close, the D128 administration has started estabget home and eat. lishing plans for the upcoming school year. Although the future of next school year Another option would be to split each lunch period is still uncertain, the administration plans to restore much of what pre-pandemic into “A and B groups that allows us to have less kids LHS looked like. come at a time, but then [that] would only leave 22 LHS Principal Tom Koulentes explained how he and the administration are hoping to 25 minutes of lunch time [for each group],” Dr. for a normal school year in 2021-22. Koulentes said. “The plan is, to every extent possible, restore what we would call ‘normal, While the future of next school year is still uncerpre-pandemic LHS,’ everything we were doing on March 12 of 2020. We would get tain, the administration plans to renovate multiple as much of that back in place as we could,” he said. parts of LHS over the summer. This would include students coming back to LHS full-time and staying on camThe old fieldhouse will be torn down and a new pus for an entire eight-period day, including during lunch hours. Additionally, sports, one will be built in its place. New air conditioning clubs and other activities would operate normally. and heating systems will be installed in smaller areas In a message from Superintendent Prentiss Lea posted on April 16 on the D128 of the school to improve air circulation to lessen website, he stated, “As a qualifier, if pandemic-related conditions deteriorate the threat of Covid-19 spreading. All of the water dramatically, the D128 Board retains all decision-making authority to comply with fountains and the LED lights in the hallways will be related state mandates, requirements and guidance.” replaced, and the parking lot curbs will be fixed. Dr. Koulenetes added that he believes students will most likely have to wear Junior Paige Bleck expressed her excitement for masks and that LHS will still need to keep social distance in classrooms next year. the spirit aspect of next school year: “I feel like [for] the He explained, however, that this is a guess on his part and all official guidance will seniors, spirit is their number-one priority and setting eventually be released by the Illinois Department of Public Health. that up for the rest of the school, creating that culture While full-time, in-person learning is not definite yet, Dr. Koulentes explained for LHS and showing we’re proud to be here.” that the goal would be to have as many students back in the building as possible. Dr. Koulentes added, “For 50% of our students, the “What we don’t know is if there will still be students who, due to health requireschool is brand new, so it’s really just the senior class ments, need to learn remotely and if that is the case, then we absolutely want to next year that will remember what pre-pandemic help those students and support those students,” said Dr. Koulentes. Libertyville was all about, and I’m going to need the The administration is still discussing what the learning model for these students will look like: either a continuation of the hybrid model of this year or an option where seniors to help restore our school community and bring back Libertyville High School’s school spirit.” online students are grouped into the same classes and learn together remotely. Another significant change to next year’s learning model will be the return back to MAY 2021
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