Geneva

Q. What are the school hours for this school year?  
Early Learning Program: 9:00-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:00 p.m.
Elementary School: 8:00 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
Middle School: 8:35 a.m.-3:24 p.m.
High School: 7:40 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

Q. Where can I access my student’s schedule?  
Home Access Center opened on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Guardians of enrolled students are able to access information about your student’s classes, report cards, transportation routes, and more. Please also double check that your email address is current. If you suspect that you are not receiving emails from 304Connects or your child’s school, please contact your child’s school before the start of the school year.  

Q. Where can I access the 2021-22 District Academic Calendar?  
Please visit this page and click on “2021-22 District Academic Calendar”  

Q. Where can I access my upcoming events for my child’s school?  
Please visit this page and click on your child’s school listed under “Select a School Calendar”  

Q. How can I expect communication from the District regarding the 2021-22 school year?
We are committed to providing regular updates to Geneva 304 families through our email service, 304Connects. All information will also be posted on the District website. If you are not currently subscribed to 304Connects, please complete the online form at this link. If the form says you are already subscribed but are having trouble receiving emails, please see our "Email Troubleshooting Tips" on this page. If you suspect you have missed communications from your child’s school, please contact the main office at that building.  

Q. How will classrooms be organized?  
Rooms will be organized with seating at least 3 feet apart. An effort will be made to maximize distancing. Shared surfaces and spaces can be used by students in classroom, according to latest guidance. Opportunities for hand washing/sanitizing will be supported and encouraged by staff. Additional specific information will be shared by your child’s school.  

Q. Will an online-only option be offered?  
Based on guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education, all schools must resume fully in-person learning for all student attendance days. Therefore, an online-only learning option or hybrid learning model is not being extended for the 2021-22 school year.  

Q. Are visitors allowed into schools?  
Visitors will be limited during the school day for educational purposes. Those admitted will need to sign in and wear a mask. Anyone, including visitors, who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as flu or COVID-19, should stay home and seek testing.  

Q. How will the district report on positive COVID cases in schools?  
The District’s COVID-19 Dashboard will be updated during the weeks that students are in school during the 2021-22 school year and can be found at the link toward the top of this page.  

Q. What support will my child receive if they are quarantined?
Please see the chart below, which addresses the educational programming for absence due to a positive COVID-19 case (click image to view full size). 

Yes. Gov. Pritzker announced an Executive Order that supports safe in-person learning and requires that masks be worn indoors by all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to PK-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Everyone must also wear a mask on the bus, in accordance with the CDC Order under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act. School buses are considered public transportation and follow the federal mandate for masking. Masks will not be required outdoors but are encouraged for unvaccinated individuals outdoors in crowds.

Yes. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala sent a letter to superintendents on Aug. 11, providing clarity on the action ISBE will take to enforce the universal indoor masking requirement. That message can be found at this link.

District 304 is requiring the use of cloth face masks or medical masks that fully covers the mouth and the nose and fit securely around the face. The use of masks with exhalation vents or valves are not allowed based on CDC recommendations. The use of face shields can be used as an additional layer of protection and must be worn in addition to a cloth face mask or medical mask. Face shields cannot be worn in place of a cloth face mask or a medical mask. Other face coverings such as "gaiters," bandanas, athletic face coverings, or neckwarmers may not provide an adequate level of protection (source control) and will not be allowable face masks in Geneva Schools based on a review of CDC and IDPH guidance. 

Q. Will students be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine prior to returning to school in the Fall?
Full COVID-19 vaccination status will not be required for students but is encouraged. The CDC is naming vaccination as the number one prevention strategy. To sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, please visit KaneVax.org or call 855-4-KANEVAX (855-452-6382). You may also have access to the vaccine from your family medical provider or local pharmacy.  

Q. If I choose to get my student vaccinated against COVID-19, do I need to inform the school?
It is not required that you inform the school, but it is requested. If your child has been fully vaccinated and you wish to share that information with the school, please make a copy of either their CDC vaccination card or a record from their physician and upload the file into Home Access Center by following these steps:

1.    Log into Home Access Center at this link
2.    Click on the “Registration” icon and then “Update Registration” tab
3.    Click on the “***Click here for Data Verification*** link
4.    Go to section labeled “Documents: Birth Certificate/Two Forms of Residency” and use the “Click here to upload new file” link to begin uploading documentation
5.    Click “Submit” at the end for the form to be submitted

File Uploading Tips: 

Need Help? Please contact Home Access Center support via email at [email protected] or by phone at 630-463-3097. 

This option will be available in HAC throughout the school year, so if you are planning to have your child vaccinated in the future, you may follow these steps when their vaccination is complete.  

Q. How do families report an absence?  
Call to your school attendance line to report an absence. Parents/guardians should state the reason for absence, and if illness related, note the diagnosis and the current symptoms of illness being exhibited each day.  For COVID-related absences, a contact tracer or nurse will reach out to families to further discuss their individual case and actions needed. Parents/guardians of students who are quarantined or isolated should stay in contact with nursing staff regularly.

      

Keep your child home and report the absence for ANY of the following circumstances:  

The Kane County Health Department does not allow school districts to accept the results of an at-home COVID test. Therefore, using an at-home test kit may delay the health department’s investigation and delay the release for children to return to school. 

Here is a link to testing facilities if needed: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/testing

However, if any member of a household is administered an at-home test and the result is positive, please contact the school and keep your child and other unvaccinated household member home. The Kane County Health Department will provide further guidance in these instances.

Q. What will happen if my child is identified as a close contact during the school day?  
A building administrator or designee will reach out to let you know. You will need to pick up the child who has been identified as a close contact and will receive follow-up information from the Kane County Health Department.

Q. What will happen if my child is identified as a positive case?  
If your child has received a positive COVID-19 test, please call the attendance line to report this information. You will be contacted by the school nurse with preliminary guidance and information, and the Kane County Health Department will follow up with specifics regarding isolation.  

Q. What will happen if my child presents with COVID symptoms during the school day?
The school nurse will contact you to come and pick up your child. Upon presentation of a negative COVID-19 test or alternate diagnosis, and your child has been fever-free for 24 hours, your child may return to school. Unvaccinated household siblings of the symptomatic child will need to stay home from school the following school day until the symptomatic child has met the criteria for return.  

Q. How will parents be notified of positive cases in the school setting?  
Parents should refer to the COVID-19 dashboard on the District’s website, which will be updated weekly. Schools will no longer send emails to all families regarding positive cases in a particular school.  

Q. What will happen if another member of the household is awaiting results of a COVID test?
If there is a member of the household that is awaiting the results, unvaccinated household members should remain home until a negative test result is confirmed. Vaccinated household members do not need to stay home in this instance.  

Q. Do fully vaccinated individuals need to stay home if they develop COVID-19-like symptoms?  
Yes, IDPH states that individuals who are fully vaccinated and develop COVID-19-like symptoms should stay home in isolation while they are medically evaluated and tested for COVID-19. They may return upon receiving a negative COVID test or alternative diagnosis and have been fever-free for 24 hours. If the person chooses not to pursue medical evaluation or testing, they will need to complete an isolation period at home.

Q. Will contact tracing be in place this school year?  
Yes. In Illinois, contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine is required per Part 690 Control of Communicable Disease Code, Subpart 1. Further, the Communicable Disease Code also requires mandatory reporting of any suspect, confirmed or probably case of COVID-19 to the local health department. The school district will comply with the health department’s mandate in regard to contact tracing.  

Q. What is the Seamless Summer Option Program and how does it affect my student’s meal options?

According to the Illinois State Board of Education at this time, when District 304 begins the school year on August 18, we will be able to continue offering a FREE LUNCH to all students. The lunch program will operate similarly to last year and follow current nutritional guidelines. Elementary students will preorder their lunch daily. Middle and high school students will order during their scheduled lunch period. The free lunch program for all will operate as long as the district continues to receive the support of Federal funding, and it is subject to change at any time. Please note, breakfast will not be offered as an option at this time. Menus and nutrition information is posted on our district website.

When your student participates in our healthy and delicious school meals program it will save your family time and money. For lunch, students are offered five food components (grain, protein, fruit, vegetable, and milk). For your student’s lunch meal to be free, they must take at least three different food components, one of which is ½ cup fruit or vegetable. At the parent/guardian’s expense, any second meals, a la carte items (including milk or beverage purchase only), or meals that do not meet the requirements described above will be charged to the student’s PushCoin Account.

Q. Will the District continue to accept applications for free meals and fee waivers throughout the year?  

Yes, because this is a temporary program, it will end on the last day of the 2021-22 school year. The District will continue to accept applications for free meals and fee waivers. For more information on the application process, please contact the Business Office at 630-463-3030.

Q. Where can I find the menu?  

Under parents' tab on the district website, click on "lunch program" and then click from the menu options. Here is the direct link to that page: https://www.geneva304.org/LunchProgram.aspx

Q. What are the safety expectations for riding the school bus this year?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Geneva CUSD 304 has updated its rules for school bus riders in accordance with guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Parents/guardians, please review the following expectations with your student(s) who may be riding a Geneva 304 bus this school year, either during daily routes or as part of athletics:

These expectations are in addition to the typical bus rider expectations, which are posted on all Geneva 304 buses and can be found on the Transportation section of our website here. Questions can be directed to Mary Dunmead, Director of Transportation, at [email protected] or 630-463-3005. Thank you.  

Q. How will buses be sanitized?  
All buses will be disinfected after each high school, middle school and elementary bus route.    

 Q. Will students be assigned a specific seat on the bus?  
Students will be assigned a specific seat on the bus. Students who live within the same household will be required to sit together.      

Q. How will desks be cleaned in between class periods, before, and after lunch?
Each classroom will be equipped with cleaning supplies that may be used after classroom use. Lunchrooms and eating areas will be cleaned by custodial staff after each lunch period. All classrooms and high touch areas will be cleaned nightly.    

Q. How will buses be cleaned?  
Buses will be disinfected after each route. Buses will be thoroughly cleaned weekly.  

Q. What cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be implemented and how will they be monitored?  
Cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be taken from the CDC guidance along with using EPA approved COVID-19 products. These procedures will be monitored by the O&M Supervisors and cleaning consultants.

Q. Will WIFI hot spots be available for student use at home?
Hot spots will continue to be available as needs are identified. The District had provided several families with hot spots during the past school year. To determine eligibility, please contact the Technology Department at 630-463-3070.

Q. Is federal assistance available to families in need of Internet services at home?  
Yes, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is offering such assistance. To read a message about the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, please click here. This temporary federal program provides a broadband and/or device benefit for qualifying low-income consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. To apply for this benefit, please click here.