No More Masks: District 202 Adheres To Judge's Temporary Ruling

PLAINFIELD, IL — Following a downstate judge's ruling temporarily voiding certain COVID-19 emergency orders at school, Plainfield School District 202 announced masks will be "strongly encouraged" but not required.

"In light of the judge's decision, masks are strongly encouraged for those who wish to wear them but will not be required in District 202 schools for students, staff or visitors until further notice," community relations director Tom Hernandez said in a message to families Sunday evening. "Masks must still be worn on school and activity buses per the Centers for Disease Control’s order."

Unvaccinated District 202 staff will no longer have to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing since the district "can no longer require" it, Hernandez said.

Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to continue isolating per previous guidelines, Hernandez said. But people who were in close contact with someone with the virus will no longer be excluded from school "unless directed by the local health department."

"The district continues to recommend that individuals who are sick should not attend school until their symptoms improve," the message reads.

RELATED: D202 Adheres To Shortened Isolation Period For COVID-19 Cases

On Friday, Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow granted a temporary restraining order voiding certain emergency rules adopted in 2021 by the Pritzker administration, Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health. The ruling means students can choose not to wear a mask, and unvaccinated school staff who don't want to be vaccinated or tested weekly must be afforded due process.

District 202 was among almost 150 school districts named a defendant in the lawsuit.

RELATED: Judge Blocks School Mask Mandate, Voids COVID-19 Emergency Orders

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul will seek an expedited appeal of the order and said he remains committed to defending Gov. J.B. Pritzker's executive orders, Patch reported.

"The situation could quickly change — which means our COVID-19 mitigation plans could quickly change, too," Hernandez said. "We will continue to seek further legal guidance as this matter works its way through the courts, and communicate as soon as possible with our families, staff, and community."

The ruling has left some school districts scrambling. One school district in Geneva opted to use an emergency day to give students the day off and let staff discuss options. Others, including Joliet School District 86 and Joliet Township High School District 204, will not change their protocols since they weren't named in the lawsuit.

Masks optional at local Catholic schools

The Joliet Diocese reversed course after first announcing it would require students and staff within their catholic schools to continue wearing masks. Officials announced Monday afternoon that effective Tuesday, masks will no longer be required but instead recommended.

Parents will be required to sign a "mask use" form to indicate whether their child would wear a mask in schools by Feb. 11.

Other COVID-19 mitigation efforts, including weekly testing for unvaccinated school staff, and three-foot distancing, will remain in place.

"We will revise our mask-use guidance as needed as this case progresses through the judicial system," a news release reads.

Some parents at Plainfield's St. Mary Immaculate Parish School, part of the Joliet Diocese, started a petition demanding all restrictions, including quarantining "healthy children based on vaccine status," be dropped.

"We feel we have extended grace and understanding on the pandemic guidelines for 22 months now," reads the petition, which also asks that unvaccinated and vaccinated children be treated the same. "It is time for the Diocese to navigate away from these failing protocols regarding health and focus entirely on the academic and spiritual development of the students."