The Sandwich School District has received a grant through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that will provide Chromebooks to dozens of families in need.
Assistant Superintendent Maureen Wiklund said she had applied for the grant last spring when the schools closed due to the pandemic, because the district quickly realized that some families did not have a computer at home.
Not only did this mean that a number of students were unable to access their classwork and virtual meetings, but not having a device at home means that those families might not be able to access other things such as soccer registration and, more recently, setting up COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
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The Sandwich School District is looking to delay its plan to bring Sandwich High School and STEM Academy students back into the classroom full time this month.
Instead, at the recommendation of Health Agent David Mason, Town Nurse Joanne Geake, Fire Chief John J. Burke, and school nurse supervisor Nicola Bordelon, the district is applying to the state for a waiver that would postpone the move by almost a month, to May 17.
The waiver is to the state Department of Educationâs mandate that districts bring all middle school students back into the buildings by April 28.
The district had initially decided to bring middle and high school students back in on April 26, but Dr. Gould said that decision was made before the most-recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the town, as well as among students.
More and more Illinois school districts are offering in-person options as COVID-19 positivity rates continue to drop. 70% of students are now in a hybrid