Governor J.B. Pritzker announced at his press conference today that Illinois schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. The announcement comes as Illinois registered its highest single-day death toll due to coronavirus on Thursday, April 16, with 125 deaths. Coronavirus cases in Illinois have topped 25,000.

As of Friday, April 17, the three zip codes that Prospect High School draws from had a combined 182 cases. Also, Prospect Principal Greg Minter reported in an email on Tuesday, April 14 to students and parents that a few members of the Prospect staff had contracted COVID-19. 

The cancellation of in-person classes for the remainder of the school year also diminishes the chances of the spring sports season being played. 

“We are also realistic in recognizing that any further school postponements, or the cessation of physical school attendance for the remainder of the year, will almost certainly result in the cancellation of all remaining IHSA sports and activities this school year,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said in a statement earlier this month. 

Now that the “further school postponement” that Anderson referenced has happened, the season appears to be in jeopardy.