2 additional Will County school districts adjust face mask policy

Both Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C and Frankfort School District 157-C have modified some of its COVID mitigations.

Late Friday night, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow issued a temporary restraining order against Gov. JB Pritzker’s emergency order requiring face coverings and COVID-19 testing protocols in Illinois schools. The temporary restraining order only applied to certain school districts in Illinois.

At an special meeting on Monday, Troy 30-C board of education decided to follow the guidelines of the temporary restraining order even though the district was not named as a defendant.

As of Tuesday, the district is recommending – but not requiring – that students, staff and visitors wear face masks in school, close contacts without symptoms quarantine or isolate and that unvaccinated staff test weekly for COVID-19, according to a letter sent to parents, guardians and staff on Monday.

However face masks are still required on school buses, activity buses, and taxis, which includes students who ride buses for all school-sponsored events, such as activities and athletic contests, the letter said.

Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 or who have symptoms will still be excluded, the letter said.

The district will still practice the following mitigations: social distancing when possible, air filtration and extra cleaning, the letter said.

The Frankfort School District 157-C Board of Education held an emergency meeting on Feb. 5 to discuss COVID health and safety measures.

District 157-C was named a defendant in the case that resulted in the temporary restraining order, which prevents schools district from enforcing face mask wearing and quarantining students and staff “identified as close contacts under the directives of the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health,” the release said.

As a result, the board decided face masks are optional for students and staff with two exceptions: when riding buses – federal law says people must wear face masks on business – and while participating in Illinois Elementary School Association activities and sports since the IESA was not named a defendant, the release said.

In addition, “students who are close contacts will be informed, but are not required to be excluded. Also, students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 must notify the district, and they must isolate from school, according to IDPH guidance, the release said.