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Dear River Bend Families and Staff,                                                 

As many of you have heard, the community of Thomson, IL asked if River Bend would consider allowing them and their families to come to River Bend.  The process of leaving the West Carroll School District and joining the River Bend School District is highly regulated by school code and legal requirements.  The Board of Education for the River Bend School District has always been open to the move if there was a benefit to the students and families of River Bend.  To best understand if bringing the Thomson residents and students to River Bend while detaching from the West Carroll district the Illinois State Board of Education granted the two districts funds to pay for a feasibility study.  The feasibility study was commissioned in October by the two districts.  The study seeks to evaluate the impact of the community of Thomson detaching from West Carroll and annexing it to the River Bend School District.  The study evaluates the impact on both districts in the areas of curriculum, transportation, facilities, and finance.  

For the process to move forward, Thomson has to officially ask the Regional Office of Education 8 if it can detach and be annexed by River Bend.  Thomson has submitted a petition to ROE 8.  The ROE 8 has to evaluate the petition to annex, and conduct a hearing at some point in the future.  At the hearing the ROE 8 Board of Trustees evaluates the feasibility study recommendation, hears public comments, and hears information from both school districts.  After the ROE 8 hearing a decision would be made. 

The feasibility study is a single part of the overall process and a study commissioned by the two school districts to provide an indepth look at the impact of Thomson detaching from West Carroll and annexing to River Bend.  The feasibility study team will present its findings to the two school boards at a public meeting.

The feasibility study report that will take place on Thursday, March 21st at the West Carroll Primary School Gymnasium 2215 Wacker Road Savanna, IL. at 6:00 PM.  This is a public meeting and all are invited to attend.

I would offer to answer any questions, but information about the overall process and the next steps are not known.  The initial step of understanding the impact via the feasibility study will be shared with all at the public meeting.

If you are unable to attend, a summary of the findings will be provided after spring break.

Serving River Bend,

Darryl Hogue

Dear River Bend Families,

I am sharing the latest National Weather Service update.  I receive these twice a day and will attend the 4:30 AM webinar to hear directly from the NWS forecasters tomorrow morning.  In the event we have to have a late start tomorrow because the area is colder than predicted, River Bend would cancel the early out and have school until 3:00 PM.  If we have a regular start we will continue with our early out.  Our staff and teachers have already scheduled training for the early out times and many of you have scheduled items as well.  However, we will cancel the early out to get our school day in if the weather forces a late start again.  I am hopeful that we can start on time and the weather will give us a break in the freezing rain.

Another item of note- The Illinois State Board of Education only allows schools to use five remote days.  River Bend has used four days so far.  If we go beyond five remote days, we will be required to make the days up during the school year or add the days onto the end of the year.  

Thank you for your understanding and diligence throughout this cycle of unfortunate weather.

Stay safe - Darryl Hogue

Dear River Bend Families,

The district has been contacted by the city and county road commissioners and warned that the roads are refreezing after salt has been applied.  To keep all safe, River Bend will transition to remote learning for Tuesday, January 23rd.

Principals will provide updated remote schedules for today. 

A decision about athletic events tonight will be based on warming temperatures and safety of travel.

Please be safe if you have to travel,

Darryl Hogue

Remote Schedules Late Start

Dear River Bend Families,

This morning rain is turning to ice as it falls.  Road commissioners hope to get salt on the roads this morning.  River Bend will begin the day with a two hour delay and start at 10:00 AM.  River Bend will continue to evaluate the impact of salting the roads and determine if it is safe to travel to school.  No WACC/MIT and no AM preschool.

Please be safe if you have to drive this morning,

Darryl Hogue

Dear River Bend Families,

After traveling on the back country roads this morning, and hearing from the road commissioners in our area with the challenges they are facing, River Bend will transition to a remote day for Monday, January 22nd.  

Principals will send updated schedules for class start times.

No afterschool activities.

Tomorrow''s forecast is also calling for freezing rain and ice on the roads, a decision about tomorrow will be made later tonight or in the morning.

Please be safe if traveling,

Darryl Hogue

Dear River Bend Families,

Our current weather pattern continues to disrupt traveling safely to and from school.  The National Weather Service is issuing a winter weather warning for early Friday morning through Saturday afternoon.  River Bend will be using a remote day on Friday, January 12th.  Each building has a specific schedule that has been shared with the students.  Teachers have worked with the students to have planned for the remote day.  

All after school activities will be canceled. 

The early predictions for wind chills in the -25 to -35 range may impact school start times or cancellations next week as well.  I will closely monitor the temperatures and provide information as soon as possible. 

Please stay safe and warm,

Darryl Hogue

NWS Weather Update 3:30PM

District Remote Schedules

Dear River Bend Families

Due to the predicted snowstorm and high winds, River Bend Schools will not be in session Tuesday, January 9th. No WACC AND MIT and after school activities are canceled. The makeup day will be Monday, February 19th. A decision regarding closing school Wednesday will be determined based on the amount of snow and safety of the roads Wednesday morning.

Thank you and stay safe and warm.

Darryl Hogue