Flossmoor School District 161 parents are continuing to raise COVID-19 concerns as the 2021-2022 school year progresses this fall. Pam Jackson, a parent of twins in fourth grade and a kindergartener at Western Avenue Elementary School, was one of two parents to speak Aug. 30 during a board of education[Read More…]
Tag: COVID-19
COVID-19 cases continue to rise statewide and locally
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Friday, Sept. 3, reported 30,319 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, up from 25,636 new cases the previous week. Cases rose in Homewood and Flossmoor, too, as the Delta variant surge continues, although the trends diverge. Homewood[Read More…]
Homewood library board considers requiring employees to be vaccinated
The Homewood Public Library board of trustees reviewed COVID-19 protocols currently in place and the possibility of requiring all employees to be vaccinated. “I don’t know. It’s a slippery slope,” Colleen Waltman, library director, told trustees at the Aug. 18 meeting. Board members expressed concern about implementing a vaccine requirement[Read More…]
Village of Homewood encourages residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Illinois, the village of Homewood is encouraging all eligible residents to get vaccinated to best protect themselves, their families and their neighbors, as well as help ensure the community’s long-term economic recovery. This recommendation follows the announcement on Monday that the U.S. Food[Read More…]
Local school districts will work to meet Gov. Pritzker’s vaccine and mask mandates (free content)
Officials in Homewood District 153, Flossmoor District 161 and Homewood-Flossmoor High School will be working to meet Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s directive announced on Thursday, Aug. 26, that K-12 teachers and staff will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or get tested weekly. He also issued an expanded mask mandate,[Read More…]
H-F High School board addresses opening week glitches
Late buses, lunchtime issues and limited attempts to meet social distancing were concerns several parents brought to the District 233 school board at its Monday, Aug. 23, meeting. Two of the parents, concerned about safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, asked for a remote learning option for their students at Homewood-Flossmoor[Read More…]
Cook County issues indoor mask requirement effective Aug. 23 (free content)
The Cook County Department of Public Health today announced on Aug. 20 that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask indoors, beginning on Monday, Aug. 23. The order requires that all people above age 2 who can medically tolerate a mask to wear one[Read More…]
State health officials announce smaller jump in COVID-19 cases last week
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported on Friday that 24,682 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois were recorded over the past week. While cases are still going up, the rate seems to be slowing. Last week’s number was an increase of 3,348 over[Read More…]
Preckwinkle issues executive order mandating vaccines for Cook County employees (free content)
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued an executive order on Friday, Aug. 20, that will require all county employees to be vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19 by Oct. 15.
Some parents worry Delta variant makes back-to-school plans obsolete
The first days of each school year can be stressful for many parents of young children, but this year, a group of local parents is feeling the stress more acutely and are seeking help from school officials to address concerns about the safety of in-person learning. The cause of their[Read More…]