21 IL School Districts Have Gotten Probation For Refusing Masks

Springfield IL

18 August, 2021

5:52 PM

Description

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Since Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a school mask mandate on Aug. 4, the Illinois State Board of Education has placed 21 school districts on probation for refusing to adhere to the requirement. Pritzker and health officials say masks are necessary for both students and staff to slow the spread of COVID-19, specifically the more-contagious delta variant, among school-aged children. School districts in Adams, Clay, Clinton, Edwards, Effingham, Franklin, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Jefferson, Knox, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Peoria, Randolph, Wayne and Winnebago counties were or are subject to having their state recognition pulled if they do not reverse their policies. All are public school districts serving pre-kindergarten through high school students. "These districts confirmed that they were not complying with the universal indoor masking requirement," ISBE spokeswoman Jaklyn Matthews wrote in a statement. "These districts now have the opportunity to meet with ISBE and to submit a corrective action plan to address the deficiencies that are presenting a danger to students and staff." Losing recognition status will mean a school no longer has access to state funding and will not be able to partake in Illinois High School Association or Illinois Elementary School Association sports and activities. It also means graduating seniors' diplomas will not be accepted by the state. Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst had its recognition status removed on Aug. 11 due to a dispute over mandatory masking. Board members later agreed to enforce masks once classes begin. State board of education director Carmen I. Alaya and Gov. Pritzker are the subjects of a lawsuit filed on behalf of a parent in one of the Clinton County districts. The suit challenges Pritzker's authority to enforce masking rules over local school boards' authority to make them optional. "We have the legal authority to enforce this, and we will if necessary," Pritzker said in response to questions on the mandate's legality. "What we think is going to happen is that schools will follow this [and] do the right thing." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend masks indoors for children. Anyone age 11 and younger is not yet eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. A list of schools that have been placed on probation: Carlyle CUSD 1Benton CCSD 47Spoon River Valley CUSD 4Warsaw CUSD 316Patoka CUSD #100Red Bud CUSD 132Durand CUSD 322North Clay CUSD 25Ewing Northern CCSD 115West Central CUSD 235Meridian CUSD 15Wayne City CUSD 100North Wayne CUSD 200La Harpe CSD 347Field CCSD 3Beecher City CUSD 20Edwards County CUSD 1Flanagan-Cornell Dist 74Abingdon-Avon CUSD 276Brimfield CUSD 309Central CUSD 3