Also going "mask optional" are large suburban public school districts across the area, including those in Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Arlington Heights, Barrington and Wheaton, where Shannon Limjuco has two elementary school grade children. 2 in September. MORE: Students walk out over COVID-19 in-person learning . Illinois schools put on probation over COVID mask mandate | Belleville Mask-less Chicago Public Schools students sent home, but CPS CEO Pedro J.B. Pritzker in October 2021. Illinois judge grants temporary restraining order against mask mandates Thursday, March 2, 2023 | Kaiser Health News On Tuesday, the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rulesrejected an emergency rule proposed by IDPH which would have outlined the requirements for schools to "exclude" certain students based on their exposure to COVID-19as well as require masks for students and teachers. (AS TO ALL PLAINTIFFS, IDPH AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS) 11. mopeyjoe 1 yr. ago. Illinois continues school mask mandate despite court ruling - Chalkbeat Parents from Dunlap, two school districts in Metamora, Germantown Hills, Eureka, Brimfield, Mortonand Limestone in Bartonville are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Other parents who added their names to the complaint include six from Germantown Hills School District 69; 13from Eureka Community Unit District 140; 10 from Metamora Community Consolidated School District 1; seven from Brimfield Community Unit School District 309; nine from Morton Community Unit School District 709; four from Limestone Community High School District 310. Chicago Public Schools to continue mask mandate | WBEZ Chicago "This is what the overwhelming majority of Chicago parents and families support.". Help fund the NPR Illinois mission to inform the community by securing business sponsorships. "In terms of the feedback we got, it was one of the best weeks of school we had in a long time. Location may have been the reasoning, DeVore added, but he said he cant remember who suggested Macoupin County. You have all shown your true colors. Mask protest planned at Illinois schools - Axios Chicago "This shows yet again that the mask mandate and school exclusion protocols are essential tools to keep schools open and everyone safe. Masks must be worn in Illinois schools when students and staff return to the classroom in the coming weeks. At what point as a society do we say let's try to go back to normal? Court grants Gov. Pritzker's request to move school mask mandate J.B. Pritzker's administration are asking a state appellate court to set aside a lower court order from late Friday that invalidated the mask It is composed of seven judges and encompasses 31 counties across a band of the state. Michigan judge dismisses school staff as defendants in lawsuits over The grave consequence of this misguided decision is that schools in these districts no longer have sufficient tools to keep students and staff safe while COVID-19 continues to threaten our communities and this may force schools to go remote,Pritzker said in a statement. How many Illinois school districts are mask optional? Their argument, in a nutshell, is if a school is going to order masks or remove a kid from school for not following COVID-19 policies, the district needs to get parental consent or a court order. Pritzker had harsh wordsfor the judge's decision and quickly urged the state's attorney general's office to appeal, suggesting the ruling could spark another surge in the virus. COVID vaccine: Hundreds of Peoria teachers, staff haven't taken COVID vaccine, district says. Governor JB . All this is prompted by Gov. Illinois has about 850 districts. Early in July, the Centers for Disease Control released guidance for schools, which only recommended masks for unvaccinated individuals. Contact StevenSpearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. "Our primary goal is to educate our kids and do that in a safe environment and that's something we've been doing, and we take very seriously.". Rochester Superintendent Dan Cox said he communicated with parents and guardians after the TRO was announced. -Hinsdale/Clarendon Hills School District 181- Open Tuesday. But Joliet Public Schools District 86 told parents on Sunday it will continue to require masks in all of its buildings since the district was not named in the lawsuit challenging the mask mandate that resulted in the restraining order. The Fourth District Appellate Court ruled early Friday that Illinois' indoor mask requirement in schools has expired and the appeal made by the Illinois attorney general against a temporary. Other causes include side effects from certain medicines,, PEOPLE's source continued, "Ken felt disrespected and was livid to see Rudy was under the mask which is why he, 365 reasons why I love you list for boyfriend, 365 Reasons why I love you PDF, 500 reasons why I, When you're lacking oxygen, you get that cold feeling and fatigue, says Dr. Morgan. District 181 schools went to remote learning Monday while administrators figure out how to interpret the ruling; the district is a party in the case. So what does it mean, how are schools responding and whats next? Pritzker issued an executive order Aug. 26requiring masks in Illinois schools for teachers, students, staff and visitors. DeVore told WCIA 3 Thursday that the case had nothing to do with why he filed in the county. AlWood, Sterling and Dixon school districts announced over the weekend they will be mask optional beginning Monday. Out of 850 school district in Illinois, more than 145 districts have filed a lawsuit against Governor JB Pritzker's mask mandate for schools. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. I mean obviously I'm still gonna wear it because I haven't gotten my booster yet, but I guess I'll just have to see," she said. The governor's office issued a news release saying schools may be forced to go remote if they don't have proper tools to keep students and staff safe. School districts across Illinois are going mask optional Full Statement from Illinois Federation of Teachers. "Its far past time we restore the system of self-governance upon which this nation was founded. I know there was a lot of discussion going on outside of the school walls. Illinois judge hears arguments in lawsuit claiming due process Rockridge School District released a statement, saying they are reviewing the judge's decision and will provide an update "as soon as possible.". Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Gov. Around the state, it set off widely varying reactions by school districts, some of whom called off classes in the wake of the confusion. Judge denies class action in mask mandate case - Alton Telegraph Several surrounding school districts, including Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Arlington Heights, Barrington and Wheaton, have chosen to make masks optional. The order was the result of. The state's second largest school district will have an exemption for a handful of students whose parents were part of the lawsuit, but that's it. The superintendent of District 122 in Metamora said they were aware of the lawsuit, but not in any official capacity. JBPritzker,Illinois State Board of Education superintendent Carmen Ayala and Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, as defendants.A hearing before Seventh Circuit Judge April Troemper is set for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 5 in Carlinville.COVID vaccine:Hundreds of Peoria teachers, staff havent taken COVID vaccine, district saysThe superintendent of District 122 in Metamora said they were aware of the lawsuit, but not in any official capacity.We have zero documentation other than what weve found online,, Illinois school mask mandate ruling forces districts to decide , Illinois school mask mandate ruling forces districts to decide whether or not to make masks optionalSCHAUMBURG, Ill. (WLS) An Illinois judges ruling has forced many schools Monday to decide whether to continue with a mask mandate or to make them optional, and emotions across the state are running high.Some school districts kept their mask rules in place, while others made them optional.But emotions boiled over a meeting in Naperville Monday night.Why are you continuing to enforce a mandate that is null and void? ranted one parent. A downstate Illinois judge made a ruling late last week that effectively prohibits a statewide mask requirement in schools, sparking plenty of confusion from school districts across the state. ""We remain committed to defending Gov. The case was filed in Macoupin County by attorney Thomas DeVore seeks declaratory judgment and injunctions against the schools, saying its unlawful to exclude students from school for allegedly being in close contact with a COVID-19 case without the consent of the parent or a court order that includes due process. Thus, it does not appear the school districts are temporarily restrained from acting by the courts TRO. The lawsuit demands that county health departments issue guidance on masks, in-person learning and quarantining students instead of state leaders and school districts. "I think it's the wrong call.". Hinsdale District 181 schools also declare an emergency due to the mask ruling and will be going remote Monday, officials said. and other people were like, 'I'm still gonna wear it.' Part of the parents lawsuit argues that only local health departments have the authority to issue mask and quarantine orders under state statute. in all settings, including education. As school districts across the state begin to interpret the order, different actions are being taken. After nearly two years of online learning, Claudette Cummings was on the verge of going back to in-person learning. McHenry County school districts named in the suit include Algonquin-based School District 300, Crystal Lake School District 47, Crystal Lake District 155, Cary School District 26, Huntley School District 158, McHenry School District 15 and Woodstock School District 200. (CNN/WSIL) -- A group of parents in Illinois have filed a lawsuit against nearly 150 school districts and public officials challenging mask and quarantine policies. DeVore claims it would take significant mental gymnastics to apply his powers under the IEMAA to local schools, and implored the court to intervene or risk a constitutional crisis. SEE ALSO | Restaurant vaccine mandate, indoor mask rules could end 'soon' if COVID cases stay in free fall. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Several Central Illinois school districts are reacting to a ruling from a judge temporarily lifting COVID-related mandates in schools. J.B. Pritzker's statewide mask mandate in school buildings.. Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow issued the order Friday afternoon in a lawsuit brought by hundreds of parents in more than 145 school districts who claim the mask order. TAYLOR RIDGE, Ill. Mask requirements, quarantine, COVID-19 vaccination mandates, and testing rules are temporarily blocked for Illinois schools following a judge's ruling on Feb 4. The lawsuit was filed in downstate Macoupin County on Oct. 20, by attorneys Tom Devore, Jeffrey Mollet and Erik D. Hyam, of the Silver Lake Group, of Greenville. J.B. Pritzker's ability to use emergency powers to cancel student sports and mandate athletes wear masks changed their lawsuit to try to block . JB Pritzkers mandate requiring all students, faculty and staff at Illinois schools wear masks in the face of the coronavirus more contagious Delta variant spreading across the state. CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-10 was issued on August 23, 2021 and requires individuals age 2 and older to wear masks in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status. Administration spokesperson Jordan Abudayyehsaid the governor was "concerned for the health of those in schoolsparticularly vulnerable children and adultsand the ability to continue in-person learning. Their argument, in a nutshell, is if a school is going to order masks or remove a kid from school for not following COVID-19 policies, the district needs to get parental consent or a court order. 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Sam said he is listening to his mom and the new rules have him worried. Meanwhile, Chicago Public Schools said it will continue to require masks, as will U-46 in Elgin. "We have wide spaces (and) large classrooms. In granting them a temporary restraining order, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene DeWitte Grischow said the mandates violate the plaintiffs' "due process rights under the law which provide them a meaningful opportunity to object to any such mitigations.". Parents filed suit against more than 140 school districts, Gov. J.B. Pritzker's mask mandate being found null and void by Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow Feb. 4. Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow heard oral arguments last week in a class action . Pritzker to end school mask mandate on Monday after CDC eases The lawsuit was filed on behalf of parents in 146 school districts in Macoupin County in mid-October last year. That, Craven said, would essentially be asking the Supreme Court to tell the appellate court to decide the case and would be on a faster track. Metro East schools make policy changes after Illinois judge's - KSDK Court weighing school COVID mitigations | WSIU With nearly 1,300 students, Timothy Christian is the largest Christian school in Illinois. However, the more contagious Delta variant currently spreading has proven to infect children at higher rates that previous strains of COVID, and children with COVID have ended up hospitalized more frequently in recent weeks than at any time since the outbreak began. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A downstate judge has granted a temporary restraining order against mask mandates for 140 school districts throughout the state. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. But on July 27, the CDC reversed its guidance, recommending masking in schools, even for for fully vaccinated people, as the Delta variant rises and new studies were published about the possibility of rare breakthrough infections due to the strain's mutation. -Geneva School District 304: School canceled Monday. 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