Upcoming events canceled at Reed-Custer, superintendent addresses possible school closure

This story has been updated. 

Gov. JB Pritzker has mandated that all public and private schools in Illinois close beginning Tuesday March 17 with a tentative return date of Monday, March 30.

In a letter to parents from Reed-Custer School District 255U superintendent Mark Mitchell, the district announced that its track meet scheduled for tomorrow, the high school and middle school band concert scheduled for Wednesday and a high school and middle school choir concert schedule for next Thursday have all been canceled.

The spring musical, set for tonight (Friday, March 13) at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday will still take place, but Mitchell is asking only people with a connection to the performers attend and for only one of the shows.

The school district is following the recommendation of Gov. JB Pritzker who recommended that schools do not hold large assemblies exceeding 250 people in a preventative measure against the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

Mitchell said he met with all Will County superintendents on Friday morning.

“It is very possible that a closure could be on extremely short notice and for an extended length of time. This type of announcement would surely cause multiple inconveniences for our families. We ask that you prepare in advance for this possibility,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell stated that the Illinois State Board of Education has encouraged school districts to establish e-learning plans, which would allow student learning to occur outside of the walls of the physical school building.

“I have urged all of our teachers to brainstorm ways to help keep learning alive in the case of a school closure,” Mitchell said. “I ask all of you as parents to support this initiative.”

The district will act upon rational medical advice and operate in a matter that refrains from panic, while still focusing on the health and safety of all.