While some school districts are turning to remote learning ahead of and through the Thanksgiving holiday, local school leaders hope their families and communities will be cautious.

Navigating school during the COVID pandemic has been a rollercoaster and local school leaders want their kids to be in school and families in central Illinois have indicated they want the same. If youth are to remain in school, caution during the holidays is going to have to be practiced according to Clinton Schools Superintendent Curt Nettles.

Dr. Hilary Stanifer is the Superintendent of Blue Ridge Schools and indicates she and her family have had to make some tough choices surrounding Thanksgiving this year. While she understands the desire to see friends and family, she hopes her community uses caution as they target a return to in-person learning after the Thanksgiving holiday.

COVID has impacted Amanda Geary, who is the Superintendent at Deland-Weldon Schools, and she is also going to be cautious during this holiday week. Like Blue Ridge Schools, Deland-Weldon schools are targeting bringing their students back for in-person learning after the Thanksgiving break. 

In a letter to the community last week, Monticello Schools Superintendent Dr. Vic Zimmerman pointed out their recent decision to go remote was a direct result of decisions being made away from the school setting.

School leaders since the start of school and the planned return to class have said the biggest concern they have about maintaining in-person learning is the public making responsible decisions that would allow them to stay in school.