Mandatory Masks, Even For Vaccinated At District 113 High Schools

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Administrators in Township High School District 113 this week updated draft plans for the 2021-22 school year in response to changes to guidance from state and federal public health officials.

"Now what they're saying is: all persons in schools, regardless of vaccination status, it's their recommendation that those individuals wear masks," Superintendent Bruce Law said at a special meeting Tuesday evening.

Hours earlier, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had issued new masking recommendations, which were quickly adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Several state agencies have responded by reintroducing indoor mask mandates.

All classes will be in-person for all students, with temporary remote learning made available for those who are not eligible for a COVID-19 or under quarantine by a local health department, which are expected to be rare cases. However, teachers may need to teach remotely if they or a family member have to quarantine.

"Last year teachers had, I would say, the impossible task of trying to teach students in front of them and teach students who are on a screen at home," Law said. "We call this simultaneous teaching, when we're being charitable, we will have no simultaneous teaching this year."

Law explained that the administrators were preparing a four levels of options that would allow for the tightening or loosening of restrictions and quarantine rules depending on rates of transmission and vaccination in the community, defined as surrounding ZIP codes.

"All along, one of the frustrations has been: when they say, 'You should be monitoring metrics.' Well, which metrics, and what's the threshold? Now we have that," Law said. "So what we've done, we taking the transmission rate and the vaccination rate, and we have created a District 113 matrix."

The CDC's community transmission classifications compare the number of new coronavirus cases. "Low" transmission, which is where District 113 stood as of this week, is defined as fewer than 10 new cases a day per 100,000 residents. From 10 to 50 new infections per population of 100,000 is "moderate," from 50 to 100 is "substantial" and more than 100 is "high."

Weekly saliva testing will be mandatory for all students who want to take part in sports or extracurricular activities, according to the draft plan. Families were asked to sign up by Aug. 9. For unvaccinated students who do not take part in extracurriculars, voluntary participation in the district's SHIELD testing program is encouraged.

Administrators also asked vaccinated families and staff in the district to voluntarily provide proof to the district starting Monday.

The information will only be shared with district nurses, and will allow vaccinated students and staff to avoid quarantine if exposed to a confirmed coronavirus cases. Those who do not response or decline to provide provide of their vaccination will be considered unvaccinated for contact tracing purposes.

Another special meeting is scheduled for Monday to vote on the draft plan for returning to full in-person learning.

Watch: July 27 Special Board Meeting of the Township High School District 113