New Screening Guidelines in Effect March 23

Mike Ward

March 22, 2021

Recently, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education revised its requirements for health screening.  Among those changes is the elimination of the requirement that temperatures must be taken by a staff member or parent.

Beginning Tuesday, March 23, 2021, Illini Central will implement changes to its health screening practice.  

All IC students will be asked by a staff member prior to entering the building or boarding a school bus if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

  • New Cough

  • Fatigue

  • Fever or chills

  • Headache

  • Known close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19

  • Measured temperature that exceeds 100.4

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Sore throat

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Diarrhea

If the student answers yes to any of these symptoms, the student will not be allowed to enter the building or board the bus.  

If the student is a bus rider, they will be directed to return to the home.  If the student has arrived on the campus, the student will remain in the quarantine area until a parent or guardian picks the student up, or an alternative transportation home is arranged. 

Students who have had contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19 must follow the IDPH guidelines for self-monitoring and self-quarantine and notify the school immediately.

All staff will self-certify that they are symptom free daily upon entry to the building.

All visitors will be asked to complete a symptom questionnaire before being allowed to enter the building.

While these changes will make the entry into school or a bus much easier, I do want to emphasize the importance of checking with your students to make sure they are feeling well on a daily basis.  As parents, you are the first step in making sure that we maintain a healthy and safe environment for students and staff.  

I also want to thank everyone for their cooperation and attention to screening throughout these long months.  I know it has not been easy, but we are grateful.