Ottawa Elementary makes masks optional at its schools

Just before classes began Wednesday, the Ottawa Elementary School District announced it will be making masks optional at its schools.

The move comes Joint Committee of Administrative Rules decision, which struck down Gov. JB Pritzker’s request to renew his emergency COVID mitigation rules that expired Sunday.

The wearing of masks is strongly recommended for all individuals while in the school building, but not required, said Ottawa Elementary Superintendent Cleve Threadgill in an online statement.

“Everyone should be respectful of an individual’s right to wear or not wear a mask,” the superintendent said.

Ottawa Elementary’s School Board met Tuesday and heard several public comments from parents within the district objecting to the requirement for masks, but the board said it was unable to take action because it didn’t have the item on its agenda to vote on. To vote on an item, the board has to place it on its agenda at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Threadgill had said previously the situation remained fluid with the state and Ottawa Elementary was prepared to adapt if needed.

“Please know that (Tuesday’s) ruling was unexpected, which results in yet another turn in this situation,” Threadgill said. “We apologize for this confusion and the late notice regarding this change in practice.”

The Joint Committee on Administrative rules voted, 9-0, with two members voting “present,” to object to the rules and suspend them from going into effect. The vote by JCAR means that, for the time being, there is no state mandate on mitigation measures for public or private K-12 schools.