The vast majority of Edwardsville public school students will be required to mask up tomorrow, in spite of a temporary restraining order against the mandate issued by a judge on Friday.
According to superintendent Patrick Shelton, only students who were named plaintiffs in litigation against Edwardsville CUSD 7 will be able to attend school unmasked.
"Masks will continue to be required for all students and staff unless an individual has been impacted by court ruling or has an approved medical exemption for masking," Shelton wrote in an email to parents on Sunday afternoon.
Shelton wrote that "after consulting with district legal counsel," the ruling issued by Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow "means that for the families and staff named as plaintiffs in the litigation, Governor Pritzker’s mask mandate in schools has been overturned and close contacts to a positive case will no longer be excluded."
"The ruling does not apply to all students at this time," he wrote. "An appeal related to this case has already been filed, and future decisions will likely have an impact on the District #7 community."
Shelton stated that while the district believes in the importance of choice and parents making choices for their children, "we also must trust in the information we are being provided by health experts and have an obligation to follow the guidance we are receiving to provide our students and staff with an environment in which they feel safe and can learn, grow, and thrive."
Public schools in Collinsville have adopted a similar position as Edwardsville, in that only the children of families who are plaintiffs in litigation against Collinsville CUSD get to go maskless when students return tomorrow.
"After consultation with district legal counsel, Friday’s ruling/order from Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow means the children of the five families in our district who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit will no longer be required to wear masks or be excluded from school if they are determined to be a close contact to a positive case," superintendent Mark B. Skertich wrote in announcement that can be read in full here.
"The ruling does not apply to all students at this time."
In the meantime, Triad CUSD 2 is heeding Judge Grischow's decision.
"...Beginning on Monday until further notice, masks will be strongly encouraged but not required within school buildings," superintendent Leigh Lewis stated in a message posted here.
"As with many legal rulings, the court’s decision to lift executive mandates is temporary and has already been appealed," Lewis wrote. "In the coming days and weeks, a higher court’s ruling could cause another shift in mitigation policies. Triad will continue to follow the law throughout the legal process. As changes occur, we will continue to update our families as soon as possible."
Parents in Edwardsville CUSD 7 are getting involved in an effort to file suit against the district on behalf of their children.
A Facebook group "Speak for Students; Edwardsville ed." posted today that it would pass along parent names to plaintiff attorney Tom Devore of Greenville, who succeeded in the TRO before Judge Grischow.
A post from Michelle Brannan reads: "Give me your name and cell number (PM or on here) if you want to file suit given Shelton's email. I will call Tom Devore's office in the morning.
"Addendum: I'm told it will be $314 per person to file. For now, I am just taking down names. There is no obligation at this time."