Online Classes Until 2021 For East Aurora Schools Due To Pandemic

AURORA, IL — Students in East Aurora District 131 will be learning from home for the rest of the year after officials again delayed their return to school amid the coronavirus pandemic.

With a “prevailing high number” of coronavirus cases in the Aurora area, district officials are now hoping to implement a hybrid learning plan in January, Superintendent Jennifer Norrell said in a letter to parents.

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The positivity rate in District 131’s main ZIP code, 60505, has often been twice or triple the statewide positivity rate, and almost half of the city’s 5,920 coronavirus cases, as of Sunday, were recorded in the same ZIP code, Norrell said.

District officials will continue to watch coronavirus trends in the area and will “certainly explore an earlier return” if it looks possible, Norrell said.

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“For now, however, we must do our share as a district to limit the spread in our area,” Norrell said.


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Though the delayed return to school is “heartbreaking,” a survey showed 70 percent of East Aurora parents support continuing with remote learning, Norrell said.

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“If there is any consolation, I am very encouraged by our overall student participation in remote learning and the high level of engagement on our learning platforms at each grade level,” Norrell said in the letter to parents. “I am also extremely grateful to our talented teaching staff. Their creativity, flexibility and ability to learn new skills to further integrate technology with instruction have made a difference.”

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District 131 will continue distributing meals at schools and bus stops, and students will be able to pick up supply kits to help them with remote learning during drive-thru events scheduled for Oct. 20-22.


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This article originally appeared on the Aurora Patch