July 31, 2020
Dear East Aurora Families,

Last week when we announced our plan to open the 2020-21 school year in the “Fall 2020 Reopening
Guidance” document, I stressed that our district chose to respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic in a
manner that prioritizes health and wellness of our students and staff.

While our district has been hard at work developing a plan to reopen our school buildings, we also
knew that we needed to be flexible, as our plan is based on current public health information available at the time. As superintendent, it is my responsibility to adjust the plan as necessary, to best support the health and safety of our students, our staff, and our families.

Therefore today I am announcing that all East Aurora School District 131 schools will begin the 2020-
21 school year with full remote learning for the entire first quarter of the school year. This means that hybrid instruction will not begin until November 4.

This change is necessary, given that the current rate of COVID-19 cases in our local zip code is
approaching twice the amount of the state of Illinois, and well over half of our parents have chosen full remote instruction. This change is also necessary in order to meet current public health guidelines and keep all students and staff healthy. This is an extremely difficult decision, and while I know many families and staff will welcome the change, I realize others may not.

We now are preparing for high-quality, full remote learning through November 4. Next week we will
release updated student schedules for every grade level, from preschool through high school.
Parents and guardians, if you have not already done so, please continue to complete the attendance
choice form that has been emailed and sent via text message. Your feedback will help in our planning for next steps.

You should also know that we are exploring additional support for your students Pre-K through 5th
Grade. We recognize that some families may depend on the two hybrid in-person days due to child
care needs. We are working on plans to offer opportunities for distance learning child care support in district and through program partnerships for working families.
I am confident we will provide excellent teaching and learning opportunities to our students, while
maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students and staff.

Be well,

Dr. Jennifer Norrell, Superintendent
East Aurora School District 131