Masks Recommended, Not Mandated For District 204 Students

NAPERVILLE, IL — Students at Indian Prairie School District 204 will not be required to mask up when the 2021-22 school year begins, though the district is recommending all students wear face masks amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The motion to approve the district's fall 2021 plans passed with a 5 to 2 vote from school board members at Monday's Board of Education meeting.

During the public comment portion of the evening, audience members erupted in cheers and applause and held signs aloft as district parents spoke in favor of making masks optional for students, challenging the efficacy of face masks against coronavirus and suggesting that face masks limit students' ability to breathe.

"At this time, every parent has the right to choose what's best for their children," district parent Brian W. said.

Ahead of Monday's vote, District 204 Deputy Superintendent Doug Eccarius cited the high vaccination rates in DuPage and Will Counties, the area's current low transmission rate, physical distancing and other mitigation strategies as reasons for the district's decision to make face masks optional.

Superintendent Dr. Adrian Talley said, "As we monitor the level of positivity, we may have to add an additional layer of protection and that could include a requirement for all to wear masks."

Masks will be required on school buses at the start of the school year and the district will continue to perform cleaning and disinfecting, along with contact tracing. Physical distancing of three feet or more will be in place for students.

In a letter to district members after Monday's meeting, Dr. Talley wrote, "Our goal is to start the school year in as much of a pre-pandemic way as possible with normal daily schedules in place in our schools and with a focus on in-person learning. Because the pandemic is not over, we will need to continue to monitor the community positivity levels and quarantine cases in our schools on a daily basis to make sure we do not need to modify our plans."

On July 9, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that vaccinated students would not be required to wear masks heading into the coming school year.