STREAMWOOD, Unwell. (WLS) — It is again to high school Tuesday for many college students in District U-46, Illinois’ second-largest faculty district, which serves elements of Cook dinner, DuPage and Kane counties.

College students returned amid a instructor scarcity, because the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect training.

Practically 39,000 college students returned to the classroom for what shall be their fourth faculty 12 months impacted by the pandemic.

The district covers 11 communities within the northwest suburbs, together with Bartlett, Elgin, St. Charles and Schaumburg. There are 40 elementary colleges, eight center colleges and 5 excessive colleges.

Superintendent Tony Sanders stated he feels extra optimistic this 12 months concerning COVID. Masks will nonetheless be inspired, however not required.

Our Chicago: Illinois’ 2nd-largest district to renew faculty with about 100 instructor vacancies

They’re additionally placing a pause on defend testing for college students and workers, as they appear into different voluntary testing choices. Unvaccinated workers members will nonetheless be examined, Sanders stated.

“I believe the extra we have gotten into COVID, and vaccinations are broadly obtainable, remedies can be found, and the persevering with easing of restrictions from the CDC and the state are making it simpler and simpler for colleges to really feel just a little bit extra regular,” he stated. “It simply had a way more regular really feel to the beginning of the college 12 months in contrast to all of our previous couple of years.”

A number of college students have been sporting masks Tuesday morning.

“For security and the COVID and all the pieces,” sophomore Jason Trajo stated.

“They’re asking in the event that they need to, to put on them. I advised him, if you wish to, simply put on it and take it. It is security for them,” mother or father Polo Trajo stated.

U-46 can be amongst faculty districts throughout the state which might be coping with a scarcity of academics and bus drivers.

Sanders stated they’ve about 100 instructor vacancies proper now, and can proceed to search for academics as the college 12 months will get underway.

He stated the district can fill these vacancies quickly with retirees and long-term subs.

As for bus drivers, they’ve sufficient, however are all the time in search of extra.

They’ve launched a tuition reimbursement program as an incentive to come back work as a instructor or bus driver.

By way of security precautions, all workers and college students shall be required to put on their IDs in a visual location.

Additionally they have a system that screens anybody who enters the college and tracks guests.

The superintendent stated they’ve additionally considerably elevated the variety of social and emotional employees and counselors of their colleges, recognizing the wants of their college students popping out of the pandemic.

At Streamwood Excessive College, college students have been greeted on the door with a spirited, heat welcome for his or her first day again.

“I am glad as a result of they will return to high school and preserve enrolling in additional stuff,” Polo Trajo stated.

Dad or mum Darren Nosck agreed.

“It is superior to have them again — can lastly get some work carried out throughout the day,” Nosck stated.

“I simply need to really feel again to regular mainly. I do know that is what lots of people need to do. I do know, like, it is scary out right here and all the pieces, however everyone simply needs to get again to regular or at the very least near it,” mother or father Danielle Brown stated.