Elmhurst D-205 A Defendant In Mask Mandate Suit

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst School District 205 is among nearly 150 defendants in a lawsuit challenging school districts' implementation of the governor's mask mandate.

School districts thought a downstate judge would rule in the lawsuit last week, but she delayed a decision.

Last week, Hinsdale School District 181 said it expected the court would shift the authority of pandemic mitigation measures such as the mask requirement from the state level to school districts. District 181 said it was poised to continue the mask rule at the local level.

District 205 has not said how it would handle the ending of the statewide mask mandate.

Last summer, the school board voted for a mask optional policy, at the recommendation of Superintendent Keisha Campbell. Not long after, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued the mandate for all schools and threatened to punish those that failed to follow it. District 205 carried out the policy.

At Tuesday's school board meeting, Campbell noted the litigation.

"We are closely monitoring the case and wanted to also say that we respect the legal system and will cooperate with any ruling that may be issued in this case while continuing to implement all other current mitigation strategies at this time," she said. "The administration has been working diligently to consider and to prepare for the many possible outcomes."

She said the district would keep the public informed.

The lawsuit targets 145 school districts. The state has more than 850.

At nearly every school board meeting, residents speak up during public comments and encourage the district to stop following the mask mandate.