District 28 Prepares For Mask-Recommended Schools

NORTHBROOK, IL — Masks will soon be optional, but recommended, in Northbrook School District 28. The Board of Education voted to transition to a mask-recommended environment at school effective March 7, the first day of school after Gov. J.B. Pritzker's executive order expires.

The district’s legal counsel has advised that the district, since it is not named in either lawsuit challenging COVID-19 mitigation measures, is legally required to follow the governor’s executive order requiring masking in school until it expires on March 5. According to the district in its latest Board Briefs, over the next two weeks, teachers and administrators will make plans to adjust to the new environment and support medically fragile, immunocompromised and high-risk students and staff. Staff will develop plans to work with the entire student body to reinforce kindness and respect.

RELATED: District 225 Moves To 'Mask-Recommended' Environment Immediately

“I do believe we are a caring and compassionate community. I’ve seen it for almost 15 years,” Superintendent Dr. Larry Hewitt said. “Clearly, not every child is going to need an adjustment period. However, we have many children who are going to be anxious and nervous. We need to be able to work with them.”

The board also listened to over 60 minutes of public comment from 25 citizens before the vote, according to the district.

Students have been attending school in a universal masking environment for the past 18 months. Changing to recommended masking is the biggest adjustment in mitigation the district has implemented throughout the pandemic. There may still be situational masking requirements to meet legal compliance, such as the federal mandate requiring face masks on buses, according to Hewitt. Temporary masking may be required for ADA or other legal compliance, athletic and music-related activities, and other unique environments. The district will maintain other mitigation measures.

The district said the legal and regulatory environment surrounding all COVID-19 mitigation is still unsettled and subject to change. If the state legislature gets involved, there is a change in health metrics or there is a new court ruling that impacts District 28, there may be a cause to shift policy again.