What If D-86 Students Go Maskless?

HINSDALE, IL — With students returning next month, one of the major changes is they'll be required to wear masks. So what if they're caught not doing so? That was a question during the public question-and-answer session at last week's Hinsdale High School District 86 board meeting.

Hinsdale Central Principal Bill Walsh said the schools would have consequences for violators. They would be enrolled in the district's online program, meaning they could no longer attend classes in person. But such a consequence would not happen on the first offense, Walsh said.

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Last week, District 86 announced it would go with a mix of two days a week of in-person learning and three days of remote. Under the plan, no lunch is scheduled — at least not at first.

"One of the reasons we decided to start with a hybrid without lunch was to have more time to really teach students proper mask wearing," Hinsdale South Principal Arwen Pokorny Lyp said.

Pokorny Lyp said she was proud that she was able to wear a mask now without touching the covering.

"It's covering my nose and not falling off, and I've experimented with four or five different masks," Pokorny Lyp told the board. "As principals, we would like to encourage parents and students to be practicing now. My own children have to wear a mask at home when they want screen time."

She said the schools expect students to wear masks and would take disciplinary measures if they do not.

Aug. 17 is the first day of school.