Students and staff who have showed symptoms of COVID-19 may return after providing a negative test result instead of isolating under Glenview School District 34’s latest virus protocols.
District staff updated school board members Mar. 14 on the latest COVID-19 mitigation protocols, which took effect Feb. 28 after the board voted to end the district’s mask mandate last month. Superintendent Dane Delli told board members the transition to mask-optional had largely gone smoothly.
“Depending on the school building that you happen to be in, one would find varying levels of mask-wearing in place,” Delli said. “We definitely have staff members and students who continue to wear masks, which is perfectly fine. We have other children and family members who have exercised their option to not wear a mask, or to maybe wear a mask some parts of day and not others.”
Under current protocols, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must still isolate for six days before returning and then wear a mask for another four days. Individuals who show symptoms but decline to test must follow the same protocols.
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Masks remain required in nurses’ offices, infirmaries or SHIELD testing sites, but students will not be separated based on whether they wear a mask and teachers cannot track or require a student to wear a mask. KN95 masks are available to individuals who wish to remain masked.
Delli said the district has developed “specific lessons” in social emotional learning to encourage acceptance of others’ mask status.
“We’ve been very deliberate about honoring the choices that people have made,” Delli said. “We really focused on some of the culture and climate underpinnings of our school buildings.”
Proof of vaccination remains voluntary, and District 34 has “limited” contact tracing, according to board documents.
Board member James Dolan requested the districtissue a reminder to parents of the specific symptoms associated with COVID-19, noting the virus’ symptoms overlap with seasonal allergies and stomach bugs and could be mistaken for another illness, or vice versa. He added that pediatric symptoms differed from those experienced by adults.
“It’s not the same set of symptoms we’ve become accustomed to as adults, and that should be comprehensive within the mitigation plan,” Dolan said.
The school district is also waiting for updated guidance from county and state health authorities as well as the Illinois State Board of Education, who have not issued new guidance after an appellate court dismissed Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s appeal to keep the mask mandate in place.
That decision was vacated by the state Supreme Court after Pritzker removed the school mask mandate anyway, though he maintains the state retains the authority to implement a mask mandate again if necessary.
Board member John Heggie, who had advocated an early repeal of the mask mandate when the board met Feb. 15, questioned whether the district could implement even the minimal protocols currently in place without the governor’s executive orders.
“We should be able to and be prepared to point to where we think we have the authority to require these things, because I’m not sure we do,” Heggie said.
District staff indicated there was legal standing for the board to implement virus mitigation protocols no different from other illnesses. Heggie was the only board member to vote against approving the mitigation protocols.
Joshua Irvine is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.