West Cook News

River Forest District 90 Superintendent Ed Condon says that effective Jan. 24, children in classrooms of “small groups” where there is an alleged “outbreak” of COVID-19 will be required to stay home from school for at least ten days if they refuse to take a test for the virus.

Condon said the district will require tests of all students if they want to remain in school, whether or not they display any COVID-19 symptoms.

“All new outbreak situations will adhere to these new (Cook County) directions and require that all students participate in outbreak testing or be excluded from school under quarantine,” Condon wrote.

Condon said the decision to isn’t the district’s but rather was dictated by the Cook County Department of Public Health, which he claims has the authority to mandate medical care for District 90 students. He warned that failure to comply would lead to Cook County health officials shutting down River Forest schools.

“Since outbreak testing is effectively serving as the equivalent of a ‘test to stay’  approach, complying with the terms is a necessary prerequisite to maintaining our in-person instructional model.” Condon wrote.

According to a memo from Cook County Department of Health Epidemiologist Lex Burda, students who take a negative test but have “very clear COVID symptoms and known exposure” will be required to quarantine for five days minimum.

“You cannot test out of quarantine,” Burda wrote.

River Forest District 90 has 1,400 students and 118 teachers. The district spent $27 million– or $29,707 per student in 2021– before its state taxpayer-subsidized teacher pension contribution.

Condon, 52, was hired as the District 90 superintendent in 2011. He earned $297,174 in base compensation in 2021. The district also granted Condon  48 paid vacation and sick days worth another $54,830.