District 113 COVID-19 Mitigations Remain in Effect | Las Mitigaciones COVID-19 del Distrito 113 Siguen Vigentes

You may have heard news reports about school districts and masks, but masks are still required in District 113. 

 

Late Friday afternoon, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow ordered a temporary restraining order (TRO) in two cases that restrains the governor, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Illinois State Board of Education from enforcing Executive Order 18 (school mask mandate) and Executive Order 24 (school exclusion for those determined to be close contacts of someone who tests positive for COVID-19). Because Judge Grischow denied two motions for class certifications, the order legally applies only to the named student plaintiffs and named employees in the named school districts.

 

As I communicated on January 27, District 113 is not a party to either lawsuit before Judge Grischow. There will be further news from this case as appeals are heard by the 4th Appellate District Court, and we expect additional clarification on aspects of Judge Grischow’s temporary restraining order. Any change that affects District 113 mitigations will be communicated as soon as we can accurately do so.

 

On August 2, 2021, the District 113 Board of Education approved as part of the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan the requirement that all persons regardless of vaccination status wear masks in District 113 as indicated in the guidance provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health. This requirement remains in effect. Like all school rules, students will be expected to follow the mask requirement as long as it is in effect.