Will County school districts take different approaches after Downstate judge’s ruling on Pritzker’s mask mandate

A Sangamon County judge’s restraining order that could disrupt Gov. JB Pritzker’s indoor school mask mandate is prompting at least one local district to change its policy as the issue plays out in court.

Plainfield School District 202 said in a message to families on Sunday that masks are “strongly encouraged” but will not be required for students, staff or visitors until further notice.

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.

District 202 made note of the fluid situation in its message.

“Please understand that the judge’s decision is already being appealed,” the district wrote. “This is just the first step of a longer process that may ultimately end up with the state Supreme Court. Therefore, the situation could quickly change, which means our COVID-19 mitigation plans could quickly change, too.”

As of late Sunday afternoon, Joliet Township High School District 204 had not communicated how it would handle the restraining order when classes resume on Monday.

The order stems from a lawsuit filed by an attorney on behalf of parents of students affecting more than 100 Illinois school districts. The Illinois attorney general said over the weekend he would seek an “expedited appeal” of the ruling.

Still, it appeared that at least to start the school week, districts would have to change course on the mask mandate Pritzker imposed before the start of this school year as COVID-19 cases were on the rise due to the highly-contagious delta variant.

Valley View School District 365U, which includes schools in Romeoville and Bolingbrook, also made its parents aware of the situation in a Facebook post on Saturday. Superintendent Rachel Kinder said Valley View was one of the districts named in the lawsuit, though she did not specify what it would do in terms of enforcing mask wearing.

“I thank you in advance for your patience as we navigate the current uncertainties as well as any future changes with COVID-19 mitigations or guidance,” said Kinder in the post. “Our goal remains to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for our learners and the adults who serve them.”

In light of the restraining order, the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium said in a statement it recommended for school district to “continue to adopt a layered approached to mitigation” including masking. The statement listed several health officials from the region, including Sue Olenek, the executive director of the Will County Health Department.