August 2, 2023 – DPS61 has announced that students of Dennis Lab School will have a delayed start to the school year as well as a later end to the school year. The rest of the district will be unaffected.
The start of school for Dennis staff and students is tentatively scheduled for September 5, the day after Labor Day, as the district continues to set up modular units for Dennis students at Garfield School. Delaying the start of school will also mean that Dennis students must attend beyond the established end of the school year for the rest of the District. The end date for Dennis students and staff will tentatively be Friday, June 14, 2024.
All other DPS61 locations will start in person on Monday, August 14.
In a release, District 61 stated “We know this entire process has been frustrating and has created a lot of stress for our families and our staff. We have had multiple conversations with ISBE and the Regional Office of Education regarding possible solutions, including e-learning, emergency days, and alternate locations. However, given the statutory constraints, and the logistics and availability of alternative locations, we have determined that pushing back the start of school for Dennis students is the most practical solution.
The district added that the Extended Day program for Dennis families will not be available until students begin attending classes on the first day of in-person instruction. The district will also provide grab-n-go meals for Dennis students, starting Monday, August 14, and continuing through the time that students are not in session in person.
