Illini Bluffs Middle School

December 9, 2021

Dear IB families, Positive cases of COVID are rising and our district is feeling the impact. In the past week, we have had 4 staff members and 8 students test positive for COVID. In addition, we have one staff member and 34 students who have been excluded due to exposure to positive cases via contact tracing.

As cases continue to increase, staffing is going to become an issue, because we are stretched thin for substitutes. One area of particular concern is transportation and we may need to eliminate and/or adjust bus routes. If this happens, we ask your patience and understanding recognize that on some days we may not know how to adjust routes until the morning of a particular day of school, depending on how many drivers call in sick.

My main goal since March 13, 2020 has been to keep our children and employees safe.  My second goal has been to keep in-person learning intact as long as possible.  We need to continue to work together on mitigation strategies to maximize our success in both regards.

Deciding whether or not to get vaccinated is a choice to be made by each individual and family. I am not advocating one way or another; however, I do feel obligated to remind you of the benefit of being vaccinated in regards to being excluded from school.  As guidance currently exists, vaccinated individuals can attend or remain at school even when having been exposed to a positive case, as long as they remain asymptomatic.  Unvaccinated individuals, on the other hand, when exposed to a positive case via contact tracing have to be excluded immediately, even if they are symptom free.

I know we are all experiencing COVID fatigue, but I ask for your continued assistance and support while attempting to provide the best possible experience for our children. Please remember: if your child exhibits symptoms, please do not send them to school or to after school activities. Also, please reinforce proper mask wearing, hand washing, and stress the importance of social distancing. 

Sincerely,
Dr. Roger Alvey
Superintendent