Parents of Edwardsville public school students are awaiting explicit direction from District 7 in its response to the suspension of a statewide school mask mandate and other COVID-related health rules. But for now, kids won't be learning virtually, and are expected in class on Monday.
On Friday, Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow issued a temporary restraining order saying defendants ignored certain state laws in pursuit of Gov. JB Pritzker's goal to force all school children to wear masks at nearly all times while in school, in the name of slowing the spread of COVID.
Edwardsville School District 7 is among nearly 150 defendants named in the litigation brought by parents and teachers. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education and dozens of other school districts also were named.
Edwardsville 7 superintendent Patrick Shelton wrote in an email to parents on Saturday that the district was in the process of reviewing Friday's court decision, but that it did not expect to return to virtual learning as a response.
"Regardless of the possible impact, we do not anticipate a need to implement an adaptive pause at this time and plan to be in school on Monday, February 7, 2022," Shelton wrote.
He also asked for parents' patience "as we review this decision."
In anticipation of the ruling, on Jan. 29, Shelton wrote to parents that the district's leadership team had "worked diligently to continue to develop plans to safely continue in-person learning."
"...We have been able to secure KN95 masks for all District #7 staff and are evaluating the availability of KN95 masks for any student who might need one," he wrote. "The CDC has indicated that N95 or KN95 masks offer the greatest protection against the transmission of COVID-19."
Pritzker said on Friday that the state attorney general will appeal the TRO, calling it "misguided." The appeal will be made at the Fourth District Appellate Court.
The ruling is highly consequential for every school across the state, public and private.
At Father McGivney Catholic High School in Glen Carbon, school president Rev. Jeffery Goeckner and principal Joseph Lombardi communicated to families that masks will not be required for its students returning to school on Monday.
"Wearing masks indoors is still recommended regardless of vaccination status, however not a requirement, except during the terms of lawful order of quarantine issued from Madison County Health Department," the message stated.
Some parents are reacting on social media, including one of an Edwardsville High School student:
"Masks can no longer be mandated, although they are not prohibited either. If you want to wear a mask, great. If not, well that's fine too. Any mask mandates have to be done by local school boards and open to public input. And even if approved, students and staff who do not comply cannot be excluded.
"Also, remote learning in Illinois is not allowed for the entire district. If they move to remote learning because they can no longer mandate masks in schools, they would be doing it illegally."