MENDOTA - Students attending Blackstone, Lincoln and Northbrook schools in Mendota District 289 are scheduled to return to the classroom on Monday, Aug. 24. District 289 has implemented a blended plan for instruction in which students will be in their classroom during the morning hours and then move to remote learning sessions from home in the afternoon.

The plan for the start of the school year will be in effect through Sept. 18 unless circumstances require moving to full remote learning. The district will re-evaluate the blended learning plan on Sept. 18 based upon the COVID situation at that time, the heat/weather conditions, the effectiveness of the current model, and feedback from families and staff. Any changes in the plan will be communicated to parents and staff.

Potential full-day, in-person instruction could begin on Monday, Sept. 21. If the entire district is again closed due to COVID-19, the schools will then move into structured full remote learning.

Special meeting

The District 289 Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting, available via Zoom, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6. Public comments will be heard regarding the opening of school and then the board will discuss and approve an adjusted transition plan for the 2020-2021 school year.

The public may address the board via telephone conference and web-conference or they may request to have a statement read on their behalf by emailing it by 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 6 to board president Sean Pappas at spappas@m289.org.

To join the Zoom meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71465409569?pwd=Zjk0cjlYakR2dVpLdzNvd2xtYndpUT09

Meeting ID: 714 6540 9569

Passcode: a8jm8L