As the 2021-22 school year inches closer, the Illinois State Board of Education came out Thursday saying school districts cannot bypass the in-school mask mandate that the Illinois Department of Public Health released on Aug. 4.
State Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala wrote to Illinois superintendents just one day after ISBE removed official recognition for a private school in Elmhurst, that was considering a “masks optional” policy for the fall school year.
Ayala acknowledged that superintendents may feel local pressure to make masks optional but stated that there would be legal ramifications to not following the order.
“The executive order has the force of law,” she wrote.
“…noncompliance is not an option. I will not compromise the health and safety of students or staff, nor will I risk even one child’s life.”
Alongside potential legal liability, Ayala said that districts that do not follow the mandate would first have its recognition status changes to “on probation” and would need to submit a corrective action plan.
“Failure to address the deficiencies would lead to nonrecognition, meaning total loss of access to state funding and loss of the school’s ability to engage in any Illinois High School Association and Illinois Elementary School Association athletic competitions.”
ISBE stated previously that in-person learning must be a priority during the upcoming school year.
“The purpose of the universal indoor masking requirement is to ensure all students can safely attend school in-person this fall,” she wrote. “We know that consistent and correct mask use is the simplest, most effective way to keep students safely in school, where they can learn and grow to their fullest potential. Masks work best when everyone wears one. Research conducted by the CDC found that schools are safe when they have prevention strategies in place, as documented in the updated guidance from ISBE and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“The Delta variant is causing a surge in cases and hospitalizations, and masking is a critical strategy to protect students’ access to in-person learning and to keep students, staff, and the community around them safe. We don’t throw our umbrella away in a rainstorm because we’re not getting wet. We have to keep our umbrella up until the storm passes.”
This advice is not only on the back of the mask mandate but also with examples of COVID-19 spread in school districts in Mississippi and Arkansas where some districts have chosen to go mask-optional.
According to US News, Lamar County School District had to quickly turn to a virtual learning model after six staff and 41 students were infected with COVID-19. Over 100 people were quarantined.
Marion School District in Arkansas identified 43 positive COVID-19 cases and quarantined 839 people in a 4,000-student district.
The Journal of American Medical Association wrote that masks are an effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19. Many other medical organizations have similar findings.
“Community mask-wearing substantially reduces transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2 ways. First, masks prevent infected persons from exposing others to SARS-CoV-2 by blocking exhalation of virus-containing droplets into the air (termed source control).
“Second, masks protect uninfected wearers. Masks form a barrier to large respiratory droplets that could land on exposed mucous membranes of the eye, nose, and mouth. Masks can also partially filter out small droplets and particles from inhaled air. Multiple layers of fabric and fabrics with higher thread counts improve filtration. However, the observed effectiveness of cloth masks to protect the wearer is lower than their effectiveness for source control, and the filtration capacity of cloth masks can be highly dependent on design, fit, and materials used.”
Locally, school districts have updated their return-to-school plans to reflect the mask mandate, although some boards have not voted on the change.
“School districts have the moral and legal obligation to follow public health requirements and guidance to keep their students and staff safe,” Ayala wrote. “Wearing a mask is simple, safe, and easy. I know it can be uncomfortable sometimes, but so are football helmets and seatbelts. Sometimes we have to bear a little discomfort for the sake of safety and because it’s the law.”
