It was a weekend of confusion for school districts across the state.
On Friday, a downstate Illinois judge ruled to suspend mask mandates. On Saturday and Sunday, school districts scrambled to provide a response and clarify expectations going forward. On Monday, when students show up for class, different districts may be taking different approaches to masking and COVID-19 protocols.
Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow granted a request Friday from downstate attorney Tom DeVore to temporarily suspend Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive orders on masking and quarantining for schools.
Pritzker issued a statement late Friday saying he’d asked the attorney general’s office for an immediate appeal of the decision.
On Sunday, the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium released a statement that recommended local districts continue to adopt a layered approach to mitigation to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. The precautions include vaccination, masking, and isolation of ill individuals.
But some suburban districts, like District 25 in Arlington Heights, said masks would be optional.
At Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst, masks will also be optional, according to a letter the superintendent, Matt Davidson, sent to parents Friday.
“I’m happy to announce that the judge presiding over the case issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) which restrains the State from (among other things) order districts to require individuals to wear masks in the school buildings,” Davidson wrote. “Therefore, Timothy will be mask-optional — effective immediately. I hope and pray this ruling stands, as it is subject to immediate appeal.”
The Chicago Teachers Union issued a statement Friday saying its January 2022 agreement with Chicago Public Schools, which guarantees masking, will keep schools open and safe.
Meanwhile, a statement from Chicago Public Schools reassured parents and guardians that masking and vaccination have been key parts of keeping the virus transmission low in their classrooms.
“The court’s current ruling does not prohibit CPS from exercising its authority to continue its COVID-19 mitigation policies and procedures, including universal masking by students and staff and vaccination and testing requirements for staff members. Our caseload is declining and the number of vaccinated students and staff continues to increase. We will stay the course.”
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