In a special meeting of the Board of Education for Monticello schools tonight, discussing the latest with COVID and winter sports will be the primary focuses in a meeting that is unlikely to have any action.

Superintendent Dr. Vic Zimmerman on the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday tells Regional Radio News this meeting is about giving the Board information to consider ahead of their regular board meeting next Wednesday.

According to Dr. Zimmerman, COVID in the community is starting to result in a spike in students that are being forced quarantine. Currently, there are 13 cases of COVID across the district but the good news is the transmission does not appear to be happening in the school buildings.

As it relates to the Board's discussion regarding winter sports and more specifically basketball, Dr. Zimmerman says it is going to be difficult to recommend a decision to move forward playing sports against the guidelines of the Illinois Department of Public Health when they are in compliance with every other recommendation.

Dr. Zimmerman indicates it has been tough to watch his students lose the opportunities of playing and competing in sports this fall and now likely the winter months. He says it is even more frustrating knowing neighboring states have successfully pulled off fall sports and are now transitioning to those winter sports.

Despite COVID numbers increasing in central Illinois and all over the state, local school leaders are discussing bringing back remote learners ready to return to in-person learning. Dr. Zimmerman says they heard similar issues as neighboring districts that there were students struggling with the remote learning setting and so at the start of the second quarter last week, they allowed any remote learners to return to in-person learning.

With COVID on the rise in the community and among those that are in the school buildings, Dr. Zimmerman released an update to their parents about the latest in COVID and stressed the importance of personal responsibility if they want to have their kids remain in school as we head to the cold and flu season. 

Dr. Zimmerman continues to stress the importance of personal responsibility of everyone outside the school setting. He reminds the community they have their kids for five hours out of the day and when they are in school, they are following the guidelines set in place. He also is confident the spread of the virus locally is not originating in the schools.