"This shows yet again that the mask mandate and school exclusion protocols are essential tools to keep schools open and everyone safe. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Parents from 145 school districts in Illinois are suing Gov. The state of Illinois announced it will appeal the decision. Grischow's temporary restraining order blocks the nearly 170 school districts named in DeVore's lawsuits from enforcing mask requirements and exclusion rules for students and . Hundreds of Peoria teachers, staff haven't taken COVID vaccine, district says, A Peoria teacher quits and the video goes viral, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. We believe what the judge ordered today is legally faulty and a threat to public health and, most importantly, a threat to keeping Illinois schools open for in-person learning. J.B. Pritzker's emergency rules for COVID-19 mitigations in schools "null and void," effectively stopping the state's mask mandate in school buildings. Sam said he is listening to his mom and the new rules have him worried. I think it's this document that has a list of the plaintiffs. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of parents in 146 school districts in Macoupin County in mid-October last year. Oswego Community Unit School District 308 said it was "consulting with our district attorneys to further understand the impact of the decision for our students and staff.". Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Gov. JB Pritzker announced that the statewide mask mandate that requires face coverings in public indoor settings will be lifted Monday, Feb. 28. The lawsuit against the 146 schooldistricts was originally filed in Macoupin County in October. Pritzker announced on Feb. 9 a plan to rollback indoor mask requirements by the end of the month. Some said they will continue to strongly encourage their use, others that these are decisions that should be made at home, like the Superintendent of Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst. Elgin Area School District U46 is standing by its requirement, explaining its Board of Education approved a resolution in August of last year supporting that the district follows recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as local health agencies. In St. Charles, district officials have also decided to cancel classes and use an emergency day Monday. Here's what we know so far. (AS TO ALL PLAINTIFFS, IDPH AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS) 11. mopeyjoe 1 yr. ago. Pritzker issued an executive order Aug. 26requiring masks in Illinois schools for teachers, students, staff and visitors. Geneva Community United School District 304 said it will cancel classes Monday, explaining implementing an emergency day is in its best interest. "My opinion, I think they should still be wearing the masks," Rojek said. Complaint filed . When Judge Grischow announced her decision on 4:45 p.m. on Friday, her 29-page ruling didn't settle the questions about masking in school. A downstate Illinois judge issued a ruling declaring Gov. There are exceptions. [Ruling on Illinois school mask mandate throws districts into chaos]There has been confusion about school mask and quarantine requirements since Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow issued the temporary restraining order Friday because several hundred Illinois school districts were not named in the litigation. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2 in September. Dozens of students showed up at Naperville schools Monday maskless. Recently, the State provided 350,000 rapid tests to Chicago Public Schools to facilitate a return to in person learning.To increase access to the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccination, the State has held 1,767 on-site vaccination clinics in schools and day camps with an additional 470 clinics already scheduled. Our children deserve no less. You have all shown your true colors. Oxford Community Schools and its staff are shielded from such civil litigation by state law under the doctrine of governmental immunity, Oakland County . See also: Assistant school superintendent from Indiana lands top position with Ball-Chatham district. More than 700 parents took part in the lawsuit, claiming local health department should have authority to quarantine or mandate masks, not the schools. 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 denies students due process. The state of Illinois announced it will appeal the decision,with Pritzker late Friday calling the ruling "misguided.". The complaint points to a bill pending in the General Assembly that would compel school districts to follow Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Board of Education guidelines during public health emergencies, and forbid them to adopt policies contrary to state guidelines. Some districts are put in a different situation due to collective bargaining agreements. This shows yet again that the mask mandate and school exclusion protocols are essential tools to keep schools open and everyone safe.. Some exceptions to the order apply. On Wednesday, Illinois Gov. mostrarti annunci e contenuti personalizzati in base ai profili di interesse; misurare l'efficacia di annunci e contenuti personalizzati; sviluppare e migliorare i nostri prodotti e servizi. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Illinois is requiring students . "We hadboth students and adults wearing masks and there were those who chose not to wear masks," Cox said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Cary School District 26 has about 2,400 students. The appellate court affirmatively stated that the language of the TRO in no way restrains school districts from acting independently from the executive orders or the IDPH in creating provisions addressing COVID-19.". 'Like glorified babysitting': A Peoria teacher quits and the video goes viral. Pritzker's request to move a massive class-action lawsuit over the state's school mask mandate and other COVID rules to a different county. The court's misguided decision is wrong on the law, demonstrates a misunderstanding of Illinois emergency injunction proceedings and has no relation to the record that was before the court. The TRO granted by 7th Judicial Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow in Sangamon County court covered separate lawsuits, but it did declare the emergency rules implemented by IDPH and the Illinois State Board of Education on Sept. 17 regarding mask mandates for students and teachers "void" and that school districtsmay "govern themselves accordingly.". 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"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.". 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A bright spot in the decision clarifies for which parties the TRO applies. The outcome of the lawsuit will impact school districts across the state, including in Central Illinois. in all settings, including education. Patti Rojek told her 13-year-old son Sam to keep wearing his. Joliet School District 204 - masks required Parents from Dunlap, two school districts in Metamora, Germantown Hills, Eureka, Brimfield, Mortonand Limestone in Bartonville are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.The 11-county complaint names 140 school districts, Gov. It prohibited schools from requiring the plaintiffs kids to wear a mask unless there was consent or a court order. The IEMAA is largely silent on its applicability to school districts. How many Illinois school districts are mask optional? To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. "There are factual bases for the distinction," Craven said. The word school is only mentioned five times, but in conjunction with the states earthquake awareness program, as well as grants for safety and security improvements. The law constantly refers to coordination with smaller units of local government like municipalities and counties, but the definition of political subdivision within the statute doesnt include school districts. "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," said Governor JB Pritzker. ", Abudayyeh said the governor "was encouraged that the court made it clear that school districts can continue to keep their own mitigations in place.". 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. This shows yet again that the mask mandate and school exclusion protocols are essential tools to keep schools open and everyone safe. The complaint alleges Pritzkers executive order implementing a school mask mandate is substantively similar to that bill, and therefore is tantamount to the governor unilaterally crafting law. Well over 100 school districts in Illinois were sued in the lawsuit. The high school parents challenging Illinois Gov. The judge's decision covers districts across the state but not Chicago Public Schools. "We expect the mayor and CPS to act responsibly and uphold our agreement to require masks providing KN95 masks for every adult and child in our schools," CTU said in a statement. So what does it mean, how are schools responding and what's next? Same goes for certain school staff who don't want to take weekly COVID-19 tests for not being vaccinated. All rights reserved. Tony Sanders said in a letter to parents. Pritzker. Chicago Public Schools and its 350,000 students will continue masking. The lawsuit contended that IDPH and ISBE are not lawful authoritieson which school districts can base mask and exclusion policies. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, p They added he's done this without any public discourse and the parents claim the people's rights rights under due process under the law were, "shredded at every turn.". DeVore is behind that and almost ten other similar cases. J.B. Pritzker. DeVore told WCIA 3 Thursday that the case had nothing to do with why he filed in the county. 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. For one thing, what she issued was only a temporary restraining order, expecting a final decision later. At least one Illinois school district has canceled classes for Monday and many others have decided to recommend masks. . A spokesperson for Pritzkers office could not be reached for comment Monday evening. 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. Craven said the state could file a petition for leave of appeal asking the Illinois Supreme Courtto take thecase or itcould file a motion for supervisory order. Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. Robert Frost 8th grader Teresa Watson said she wants to see how the mask optional policy goes. According to the ruling, such agreements remain enforceable, like the one between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union. "We have wide spaces (and) large classrooms. But the state's top court . Community Consolidated School District 181, which has schools in Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, and Burr Ridge, said Monday will be an emergency remote instruction day. Context: The protest unfolds as a Sangamon County circuit court judge prepares to rule on a lawsuit against 146 Illinois school districts mostly downstate but including CPS that challenges the mandate. Location may have been the reasoning, DeVore added, but he said he cant remember who suggested Macoupin County. You do not need to show proof of vaccination in Chicago and Cook County. So right now we're effectively in a holding pattern.". It also says its unlawful to require masks as a type of treatment without parental consent or a quarantine order from the courts. Vaccinations, boosters, mask-wearing and testing are the key to keeping schools open and to maintaining safety standards for staff and students alike. The bicameral committee, made up of lawmakers from both parties, rejected the rule unanimously. Sangamon . In south suburban Burbank, School District 111 will "fully comply with the court's ruling," but recommends masks be worn by all students and staff in school buildings. Hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, and staff across Illinois are doing their best to remain healthy and keep schools open. Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow heard oral arguments last week in a class action . Grischow's temporary restraining order blocks the nearly 170 school districts named in DeVore's lawsuits from enforcing mask requirements and exclusion rules for students and staff as well as. The case was filed by attorney Thomas DeVore on October 20 in Macoupin County against Gov. It prioritizes a relatively small group of plaintiffs who refuse to follow widely-accepted science over the rights of other students, faculty and staff to enter schools without the fear of contracting a virus that has claimed the lives of more than 31,000 Illinois residents - or taking that virus home to their loved ones. The Illinois Federation of Teachers is greatly distressed at the judge's temporary restraining order (TRO) in this case. "This type of evil is exactly what the law was intended to constrain., The state of Illinois plans to appeal the decision, Pritzker said late Friday, calling the judge's decision "misguided. J.B. Pritzker's move came hours after the Illinois Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal of a decision in a lawsuit challenging Pritzker's mask mandate. CHICAGO (WLS) -- On Monday, Chicago Public Schools parents Kelley Escamilla and her husband gave their 3rd and 6th graders a choice: Go to school and wear a mask or don't. They didn't wear masks . It was a regular school day inside. The lawsuit demands that county health departments issue guidance on masks, in-person learning and quarantining students instead of state leaders and school districts. MASK AND EXCLUSION POLICIES. Some are comfortable with the switch to a mask optional policy, while others are not. The class action lawsuit against 140 school districts. Illinois school districts will be deciding whether or not to make masks optional after a judge ruled against the state's mandate. KalegNar 1 yr. ago. The Joliet Diocese is requiring all catholic schools within the diocese to continue to wear masks including Joliet Catholic Academy. The court also disposed of Pritzker's contention that his executive orders, despite the JCAR ruling, were still in effect. After nearly two years of online learning, Claudette Cummings was on the verge of going back to in-person learning. Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow issued the order, which went into effect Friday afternoon, after Rockridge and 144 other state school districts were named ina lawsuit by over 700 parents against the IL State Board of Education, the state's health director and Gov.