Naperville School District 203 will start the upcoming school year requiring children and adults to wear masks inside schools.
The school board Monday approved Superintendent Dan Bridge’s recommendation on reopening schools, including following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance that children and adults wear masks in school settings, regardless of vaccination status.
“In a call with DuPage County superintendents today, the DuPage County Health Department indicated at this time universal mask wearing should continue in schools until all school-age children eligible for the vaccine and the majority are vaccinated against COVID-19,” Bridges said.
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As of Monday, the total number of cases per 100,000 people in District 203 and DuPage County fell under substantial COVID-19 transmission. The 7-day positivity rate, meanwhile, fell under low transmission within the district and the county.
But last week, DuPage was among multiple counties reporting substantial COVID-19 transmission.
“The guidance continues to be updated, evolve and change, which I know has brought frustration to many of us…what I present to you today is where I sit on Aug. 2,? Bridges said, noting the requirement can change if conditions improve.
Indian Prairie School District 204 announced last week officials would provide an update on its mask policy at its Aug. 9 meeting after announcing last month it would make masks optional; their plan allows for a masks requirement.
Like Indian Prairie, District 203’s plan is made of tiers and color-coded to allow mitigation measures like masks to be lifted or reinstated.
The plan eases mitigation measures like quarantining. Someone fully vaccinated and showing no COVID-19 symptoms no longer has to quarantine if they were in close contact with an infected individual, according to the plan. Students three-to-six-feet of an infected student will not be considered close contact so long as “consistent and correct mask use and other strategies are in place,” according to a presentation.
A short-term alternative learning option will be available to students who are unvaccinated and who fall under quarantine orders from the state and county. Students medically unable to attend school in person may qualify for home/hospital instruction, according to the plan.
Most people at Monday’s meeting and those who submitted written comments, though, were focused on the contentious topic of masks.
“You know what the data is on this disease. You know the science on the delta variant. Please follow the science, don’t risk our children’s health, keep our kids safe,” said Agnes Choi, a parent of a second-grade student at Steeple Run Elementary School.
Choi said the relative lack of spread of the virus District 203 saw last school year was because of masks, contrary to opponents arguing for the unmasking of students.
“Some of you guys point to the lack of spread in our schools last year. Well, why do you think that is?” she added.
Ann Marie Tracy worries about her first-grade son at Scott Elementary School, who has limited hearing in his left ear. She fears he may have to play catch up academically.
His reliance on facial expressions and lip reading is impacted by wearing face coverings, she said. He often had trouble hearing what his friends were saying while in class.
“It breaks my heart to know at the tender age of 6 he’s already lost confidence in his ability to learn. Please, please, please remember hearing-impaired kids,” she said. “Please make masks optional so he can see some faces from time to time in his classroom.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt more lonely than I did during the 2020-21 school year,” added student Juliana Russo. She had COVID-19 but almost no symptoms and no long-term effects.
“I would also like to point out that the classes of 2022 and 2023 can vote in the next school board election…I will not forget,” she told the board.
Multiple doctors spoke in support of masks in schools. One of these speakers said she had a letter signed by more than 50 local physicians requesting District 203 follow the guidance from health experts and health agencies.
“I’m looking at it as a scientist but I have the heart of a mom. I really just want all the kids to be safe,” said pediatrician and parent Shivani Desai.