Mask Mandate Enforcement Unfair To Private Schools, Judge Finds

OSWEGO, IL — Parkview Christian Academy regained its state recognition Wednesday after a Kendall County judge ruled that private schools are held to different standards than public schools in regard to Illinois' school mask mandate.

The Illinois State Board of Education restored Parkview's recognition Wednesday, files from the state show.

The Yorkville school's state recognition was rescinded Aug. 24 after school officials refused to follow the statewide mask mandate — requiring students and staff to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status — established by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in August. Instead, the academy decided to allow families to decide if their children would wear masks or not, Shaw Media reported.

"In the end, I simply cannot reconcile how it is not more burdensome for Parkview to suffer the emergency revocation of their school status without any right to probation or hearing knowing that just down the street, Yorkville High School refused to comply with the mask mandate ... and would be required to put that school on probation and engage in a lengthy hearing process," Judge Stephen Krentz said.

Without state recognition, a school would no longer have access to state funding and wouldn't be able to partake in Illinois High School Association or Illinois Elementary School Association sports and activities. Graduating students would also be affected since their diplomas wouldn't be accepted by the state.

According to a report from WSPY News, the Christian school requested an emergency order for temporary reinstatement of state recognition while the issue moves through the court system.

Following Wednesday's court findings, Parkview can once again participate in IHSA sports, but the recognition is temporary. The next hearing is set for Oct. 7 at the Kendall County Courthouse.

The school's attorneys didn't respond to Patch's request for comment.

RELATED:

• Bethany Lutheran Loses State Recognition Over Mask Defiance
  
• No Masks: Trinity Christian School Loses State Recognition
• Elmhurst School Yields To State Pressure On Masks
• State Puts 51 School Districts On Probation For Not Following Mask Mandate

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Oswego Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!)