How Will Elmhurst 205 Enforce Mask Mandate?

ELMHURST, IL — Two weeks ago, the Elmhurst school board decided to make masks optional for the school year starting Aug. 18.

Then a week later, Gov. J.B. Pritzker mandated mask for schools across the state, regardless of vaccination status. Exemptions are allowed for students with disabilities under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The district's superintendent, Keisha Campbell, issued a public statement shortly afterward, acknowledging the governor's order.

During the local debate over masks, parents from both sides were passionate about their positions. One woman blamed masks for causing her 5-year-old's articulation speech delay.

Patch sent an inquiry to the district Monday morning asking how the district plans to handle students who enter the schools maskless. The district's spokeswoman acknowledged the message, but it went unanswered a day later.

In some places, mask enforcement is looser than it used to be. Elmhurst Public Library issued a mask mandate last week, but some people, especially those who are seated, are violating the order.

Last school year, masks were barely an issue. Many Elmhurst parents were so insistent that schools reopen, masks were an afterthought.

At a February school board meeting, board member Jim Collins urged a full reopening, saying other districts had done so and suffered no calamities that he knew of.

"Let's mask up and open up," Collins said.

At the time, many agreed with him. Now, they may not be on board with the first part of his advice.

Collins himself joined the other board members in approving the mask-optional policy. But he warned the governor may end up deciding the issue for all districts. He was right.