|
 Fifty-eight Illinois school districts were put on probation by
the state after voting to make masks optional for returning students in defiance
of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s statewide mask mandate.
The governor gave those districts’ administrators an ultimatum: require masking
in schools or forfeit state recognition, funding, sports participation and the
college prospects of seniors. He said his orders follow updated recommendations
from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designed to address the
more-contagious Delta variant.
But his explanation did little to stem the outcry from parents and school staff
who already voted on how to safely reopen their local schools. They do not
believe Pritzker’s mask mandate is in their students’ best interests.
Frustrated parents have been complaining to local school districts about the
governor’s mask mandate, which has forced “thousands of volunteer School Board
members and superintendents throughout the state to act in a way that they
personally disagree with in order to comply with the order,” according to
Meridian School District Superintendent P.J. Caposey.
An elected member of the Mahomet-Seymour school board even had his medical
license investigated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation after expressing personal opposition to the mandate. The department
has since apologized and dismissed the case, but Dr. Jeremy Henrichs and
lawmakers maintain the communications could have constituted criminal
intimidation.
The Illinois State Board of Education sent ultimatums to 58 schools or
districts. Timothy Christian middle and high schools complied with the state’s
demands and are again recognized. Of the other 56 school districts, five are
currently unrecognized by the state, 15 voted to comply and are reinstated, and
the rest remain on probation.
Pritzker initially told Illinoisans he thought masking and other COVID-19
protocols should be a local decision, left to local school leaders being advised
by local health departments.
[to top of second column]
|
“Families should be involved in making decisions
for their own families. And, school districts and school boards will
make decisions for the schools within their districts,” Pritzker
said July 17.
But that was before so many school districts were exercising their
freedom to choose and making what Pritzker considered to be the
wrong decision.
“Far too few school districts have chosen to follow
the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prescription
for keeping students and staff safe,” Pritzker said. “Given the
CDC’s strong recommendation, I had hoped that a state mask
requirement in schools wouldn’t be necessary, but it is.”
Pritzker introduced his statewide mask mandate Aug. 4, requiring all
students, staff and visitors in Illinois private and public schools
to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.
Then on Aug. 26 he imposed a statewide indoor mask mandate for
anyone older than 2 starting Aug. 30. He also mandated COVID-19
vaccinations for all education workers from prekindergarten through
college as well as for state college students. Health care workers
also must be vaccinated, with first shots required by Sept. 5 or
else workers face weekly testing.
“The executive order has the force of law,” Illinois Superintendent
of Education Carmen Ayala said. “I understand the pressure some
school and district leaders may be facing from community members,
and I will provide you with every support to understand, communicate
and comply with the order. However, noncompliance is not an option.
I will not compromise the health and safety of students or staff,
nor will I risk even one child’s life.”
 She said a non-complying district would be contacted by the state,
placed on probation and asked for a “corrective action plan” within
60 days. Failure to comply would mean a total loss of state funding,
an inability to participate in Illinois High School Association and
Illinois Elementary School Association sports, and diplomas would
not be recognized by the state, “invalidating years of students’
hard work. |
