Hampton School District 29

Return to Learn Plan

2021-2022

     It is our district’s goal to protect the health of all students and staff.  In the past several weeks the Center for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education have issued guidance on COVID mitigation strategies for schools beginning their 2021-2022 school years. All three organizations currently recommend that all those individuals that remain unvaccinated wear masks in schools. After careful consideration and discussion concerning current transmission and positivity rates and vaccine availability in the surrounding area, the Hampton School District 29 School Board has decided to begin the school year with a mask optional policy. The district strongly encourages individuals who are not fully vaccinated to continue to wear masks while in the school building but it will no longer mandatory.  Individuals who are fully vaccinated may resume normal activities without a mask except where required by federal, state and local rules and regulations. Masks will still be required for all individuals on school buses at all times per state directive. Masks will not be required while outside and social distancing will be encouraged at all times.

     The district will continue to maintain other layered mitigation activities such as additional extensive cleaning in areas throughout the building, maintaining social distancing to the greatest extent feasible, installing additional no touch equipment in restrooms, installing water bottle filling stations in place of water fountains, installing air purification systems throughout the building and disinfectant availability in classrooms and halls. The district will monitor local conditions including local positivity rates and vaccine availability regularly and will adjust mitigation efforts if it becomes necessary to do so. In the event that infection rates climb to significantly higher levels, the district may reinstitute required masking for all unvaccinated students. The district will continue symptom screening and will follow exclusion guidance from the Rock Island County Health Department for individuals that test positive, exhibit symptoms or are a “close contact” to a confirmed COVID case. Binax testing for COVID will also be made available in the building for students that exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID.

Additional Health Information

     We are asking parents to continue to screen their children each morning for signs of COVID prior to sending them to school.  If the symptoms are present, please keep the children at home until the symptoms are no longer present.  Please remember to contact the school office if your children are sick and will be kept at home for the day. Teachers will review cleanliness procedures with students during the first several days of classes. Signage will be placed at building entrances prompting unvaccinated visitors to wear a mask if entering the building.

Instruction

     The district has purchased additional Chromebooks and carts to allow students to access technology as needed throughout the day and at home as necessary. This year the district will only offer remote instruction to students that are in quarantine and have not received or are not eligible to be vaccinated as per state guidelines. Students in quarantine should work with their individual teachers to stay current with their learning and homework. Attendance will be taken daily and homework will continue to be graded.  

Building Information

     We will attempt to maintain social distancing as much as possible throughout the school day. Students will be expected to line up on their places on the playground once they arrive on school grounds. Spacing will be maintained in the halls and classrooms. Additional tables will be set up in the lunchroom to accommodate social distancing during each lunch period. Locker access will be arranged by each teacher with different times for each class to limit overcrowding in the hallways. Parents should consider sending their children to school with a full water bottle to limit the need to go to the halls during the day. Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms and the halls for student use during the school day. Personal hand sanitizer can also be considered for students whom parents feel are old enough to use it responsibly.

     In closing, the district strongly recommends that unvaccinated students continue to wear masks but it will not be mandatory.  COVID transmission rates are currently relatively low in our area. The district will continually monitor COVID conditions and will act accordingly if rates suggest additional mitigation efforts are deemed necessary.  The Department of Public Health is currently reviewing guidelines and may issue new guidance in the near future. With cooperation from everyone, we can limit the impact of COVID in our district.

Stay Healthy,

Scott McKissick

Superintendent

Hampton 29

Dear Hampton Families,

The state of Illinois has issued a report designating Hampton as an exemplary school. The designation places the school in the top ten percent of all schools in the state based on our performance for all of the state accountability indicators. The staff and administration are very proud of our designation as it is a validation of the hard work that the school board, students, staff, and parents put in daily to make Hampton School such an outstanding place for students to learn. Please click on the school dashboard under the about us section of our home page for additional information. Congratulations to everyone in our Hampton Hawk family for earning such a prestigious award!

Our mission is: "To provide every student the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, attitude, and skills necessary to be a successful high school student, a respectable citizen and a lifelong learner." Our school district offers a standard, comprehensive curriculum with specialized teachers instructing K-8 music, art and physical education. Hampton School District students perform above the state average on 11 of 12 measures of the state PARCC assessment. We have 227 students, 16 teachers and 15 support personnel. The Hampton School District may enroll students from outside the district, but we do not have open enrollment.

Non Hampton Resident Students. We are now accepting applications for non-resident students to attend Hampton School. Please fill out an application, and a signed policy statement, found under forms and documents, and mail to 206 5th Street, Hampton, IL 61256. Applications will be approved after registration in August.