- Decatur Public Schools District #61
- Early Release & Inclement Weather Staff Expectations
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In the event of an early release or inclement weather event, DPS leadership has worked with union leadership to develop the staff expectations you see below. Please reach out to your building administrator or direct supervisor if you have specific questions.
CATEGORY EARLY RELEASE INTERRUPTED DAY E-LEARNING DAY SNOW/INCLEMENT WEATHER DAY DEFINITION School is dismissed after five clock hours of instruction. School is cancelled for students after one hour of instruction. School is cancelled for students before the start of the school day and an e-learning day is declared. School is cancelled for students before the start of the school day. An emergency day will be used at the end of the school year to make up the snow day. Administrator Remain at work for the remainder of the workday. Remain at work for the remainder of the workday. This is a workday. Administrators are expected to report to work. This is a workday. Administrators are expected to report to work or use available benefit day (personal or vacation). Administrative Support Remain at work for the remainder of the workday. With the approval of their supervisor(s), may use accrued vacation or personal days if unable to remain at work. Remain at work for the remainder of the workday. With the approval of their supervisor(s), may use accrued vacation or personal days if unable to remain at work. This is a workday. With the approval of their supervisor the employee may use accrued personal or vacation days if unable to come to work. This is a workday. Admin Support are expected to report to work or use available benefit day (personal or vacation). Certified Staff (DEA) Remain at work for 15 minutes after the students’ instructional day has ended. Remain at work for 15 minutes after the students’ instructional day has ended. Work from home to provide live e-learning for students per joint agreement. School is canceled for teaching staff. An emergency day at the end of the year will be used to make up the school day. Clerical (DESPA) Remain at work for the remainder of the work day. May use accrued vacation, personal or sick time to receive pay for the remainder of the day, or take the remainder of the day without pay, at the employee’s option. Remain at work for the remainder of the work day. May use accrued vacation, personal or sick time to receive pay for the remainder of the day, or take the remainder of the day without pay, at the employee’s option. This constitutes a workday. With the approval of their supervisor, may work from home, if possible. May use accrued vacation, personal, or sick time to receive pay for the day, or take the day without pay, at the employee’s option. This constitutes a workday. With the approval of their supervisor, may work from home, if possible. May use available vacation, personal or sick time to receive pay for the day, or take the day without pay, at the employee’s option. Custodial (SEIU "A" Team) Remain at work for the remainder of the day. If unable to do so, accrued vacation or personal time may be used in order to be paid for the remainder of the workday. Remain at work for the remainder of the day. If unable to do so, accrued vacation or personal time may be used in order to be paid for the remainder of the workday. This constitutes a workday. If unable to attend, the employee may use accrued vacation or personal time in order to be paid. This constitutes a workday. If unable to attend, the employee may use available vacation or personal time in order to be paid. Maintenance (SEIU "B" Team) Remain at work for the remainder of the day. If unable to do so, accrued vacation or personal time may be used in order to be paid for the remainder of the workday. Remain at work for the remainder of the day. If unable to do so, accrued vacation or personal time may be used in order to be paid for the remainder of the workday. This constitutes a workday. If unable to attend, the employee may use accrued vacation or personal time in order to be paid. This constitutes a workday. If unable to attend, the employee may use available vacation or personal time in order to be paid. Teaching Assistants (DFTA) Employees work with their principals to see if their assistance is needed. For any hours not worked, they may submit sick time accrued in this pay period. Employees work with their principals to see if their assistance is needed. For any hours not worked, they may submit sick time accrued in this pay period. Work from home to provide live e-learning for students per joint agreement. School is cancelled for teaching assistants. An emergency day at the end of the year will be used to make up the school day. Teamsters Remain at work for the remainder of the day. If unable to do so, accrued vacation or personal time may be used in order to be paid for the remainder of the workday. Remain at work for the remainder of the day. If unable to do so, accrued vacation or personal time may be used in order to be paid for the remainder of the workday. This constitutes a workday. If unable to attend, the employee may use accrued vacation or personal time in order to be paid. This constitutes a workday. If unable to attend, the employee may use available vacation or personal time in order to be paid. Security Guards (SEIU "C" Team) Remain at work for at least ten minutes after the students’ instructional day has ended. Remain at work for at least ten minutes after the students’ instructional day has ended. Do not report to work. Employees will be paid per 105 ILCS 5/10-20.56. School is cancelled for security staff. An emergency day at the end of the year will be used to make up the school day. Non-Contractual Hourly/Daily Employees Employees work with their principals to see if their assistance is needed. Employees work with their principals to see if their assistance is needed. Do not report to work. Employees will be paid per 105 ILCS 5/10-20.56. School is cancelled for hourly employees. An emergency day at the end of the year will be used to make up the school day. Updated January 2024
E-Learning in Lieu of Emergency Days
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On Tuesday, August 29, 2023, the Decatur Public Schools Board of Education renewed the District's e-Learning plan for three school years: 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26. Essentially, on any day that would be called a snow day, the District could instead shift to e-Learning for that day and will then not have to make up the snow day at the end of the school year. Per Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) guidelines, as with previous emergency days, only five (5) of these days can be used during a school year; any emergency days beyond that will simply result in a canceled school day.
Click here to view the e-Learning Plan. While e-learning is an option for DPS to utilize during the 2023-24 school year in lieu of emergency days, the decision to do an e-learning day or a snow day will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Families and staff will be given ample notification in which to prepare for e-learning days, but all student and staff devices should be charged daily.
Leadership from Decatur Public Schools, the Decatur Education Association (DEA), and the Decatur Federation of Teaching Assistants (DFTA) reached the below joint agreement about expectations for both teachers and teaching assistants in regard to e-learning days in lieu of emergency days.
- DEA members will work from home to provide daily live virtual instruction on declared e-learning days, following this schedules below. The instructional day will begin and end for all schools following their regular bell schedule.
- Elementary Grades (PreK-6):
- Follow bell schedule for half day
- Live teaching in AM
- Lunch (based on tiers and half day schedule)
- Available PM for students
- Secondary Grades (7-12):
- 1st Hour 8:00 - 8:25 a.m.
- 2nd Hour 8:30 - 8:55 a.m.
- 3rd Hour 9:00 - 9:25 a.m.
- 5th Hour 9:30 - 9:55 a.m.
- 6th Hour 10:00 - 10:25 a.m.
- 7th Hour 10:30 - 10:55 a.m.
- 8th Hour 11:00 - 11:25 a.m.
- 4th Hour 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Teacher lunch 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.
- Elementary Grades (PreK-6):
- DFTA members will work from home to support teachers to provide live virtual instruction, or report to their buildings or other location where internet access is available if they do not have access to technology off campus. If there is professional development available, the assistants will have the opportunity to do PD.
- DEA members will work from home to provide daily live virtual instruction on declared e-learning days, following this schedules below. The instructional day will begin and end for all schools following their regular bell schedule.