Oswego District 308 Moves To Mask-Optional Environment

Oswego IL

23 February, 2022

5:20 PM

Description

OSWEGO, IL — While masks remain strongly recommended, Oswego Community Unit School District 308 no longer requires students, teachers and staff to wear them as of Feb. 17. Superintendent of Schools John Sparlin said the significant decision was made because the severity of the virus has decreased, positivity rates are dropping, and "more is known about masks." Exceptions to the new rule include buses and driver education cars, unless an approved face mask exemption is in place, Sparlin said in an announcement Feb. 16. "A large part of our commitment to having a safe place for students to learn is maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment," the message reads. "We need all students and staff to feel accepted regardless of their choice to wear a mask or not." Sparlin continues: "Our community is not all in agreement on whether wearing a mask is best, but we need to be unified in our message that bullying or harassing is not in the best interest of students, staff, or our community at large. It is time to come together, and to move forward in our goal to educate students and help them succeed to their highest potential. Please encourage students to bring any concerns up to their teacher, building administrator, or another trusted adult so they can be addressed." In addition to being mask optional, people who were in close contact with someone with COVID-19 but have no symptoms are no longer required to quarantine, unless they're directed to by the local health department. Sparlin also noted testing will remain "highly recommended" but not required after being exposed. "Returning to school after a COVID-19 infection and following five days of isolation, requires wearing a mask for days 6-10; alternatively a full 10 days of isolation can be completed and return without restrictions," Sparlin wrote. District officials said they will continue monitoring cases "based on our own trends within student and staff COVID-19 case data."