McHenry County school districts named in the suit include Algonquin-based School District 300, Crystal Lake School District 47, Crystal Lake District 155, Cary School District 26, Huntley School District 158, McHenry School District 15 and Woodstock School District 200. The order was the result of. Some exceptions to the order apply. Pritzker's actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and will appeal this decision in the Illinois Appellate Court for the 4th District in Springfield," said Attorney General Kwame Raoul. "Due to the multiple interpretations of the ruling and the status of the State mandates, there is a strong likelihood that there will be disruption in our schools which will have a substantial negative impact on the delivery of instruction and the health and safety of our students and staff," the district said in a letter to families. Because it will never be perfect.". Our children deserve no less. The administration is working with (Attorney General Kwame Raoul)to request an expedited review of this decision from the (Illinois) Supreme Court. Parents from eight Peoria-area school districts are participating in a lawsuit aimed at abolishing mask requirements in schools. One of the cases DeVore is representing parents in actually sparked this newest lawsuit and the largest complaint filed yet. Lawsuit Seeks to Strike School Mask Mandate | Chicago News | WTTW Parents lash out at Naperville school board meeting after district decides to keep requiring masks. DeVore told WCIA 3 Thursday that the case had nothing to do with why he filed in the county. "However, this is no longer a policy at this time.". Some districts are put in a different situation due to collective bargaining agreements. It is composed of seven judges and encompasses 31 counties across a band of the state. "There is no rhyme or reason to have it, if people can have masks optional, that is the best decision for everyone," said Natalie Merchant, anti-mask parent. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In fact, the safety mitigations encompassed by the State's guidance, as well as vaccinations for children and adults, are the best ways to keep schools open and everyone healthy. Illinois school mask mandate lawsuit: What you need to know about a ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. School districts and private businesses can continue to require masks at their discretion. Statutory rights have attempted to be bypassed through the issuance of executive orders and emergency rules, she stated in the 29-page order. Tony Sanders said in a letter to parents. In the metro-east, Red Bud CUSD 132 in. Davidson said he believes he has the support of most of his school community. "We're seeing it in so many places, tens of thousands of schools across the country, have been mask optional all year long.". The group of parents released a statement on Oct. 25, 2021, through attorney Thomas DeVore regarding the lawsuit. The grave consequence of this misguided decision is that schools in these districts no longer have sufficient tools to keep students and staff safe while COVID-19 continues to threaten our communities and this may force schools to go remote,Pritzker said in a statement. The judge filed a temporary restraining order against Bond CountyCommunity UnitSchool DistrictNo. Leslie Renken can be reached at(309) 370-5087orlrenken@pjstar.com. Grischow's temporary restraining order blocks the nearly 170 school districts named in DeVore's lawsuits from enforcing mask requirements and exclusion rules for students and . Illinois mask mandate will lift for residents Feb. 28, but students will have to continue wearing masks at schools. Greenville-based attorney Thomas DeVore, the plaintiff in the case, said those executive orders were trying to get around the law of the court and due process. All parents want is a choice," said Jennifer Hildreth, anti-mask parent. Hes now running for a seat on the states Fourth District Appellate Court, while Bailey is vying to unseat Pritzker in next years gubernatorial race. Illinois parents sue Pritzker over school mask mandate New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Chicago Suburb Lands on List of Happiest Places to Live,' Another Midwest City Makes Top 10, Chicago-Area Counties Under Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings, Stomach Bug Cases Surging, Sending People to Emergency Rooms in Chicago Area. With nearly 1,300 students, Timothy Christian is the largest Christian school in Illinois. Will County school districts take different approaches after Downstate Doctors warn ending school mask mandates will lead to rise in COVID Appeal imminent as Illinois judge blocks school mask mandate Contact StevenSpearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. Here are the McHenry County school districts named in the mask mandate The ruling comes in light of a legislative committee Tuesdaynot renewing the mask mandate requested by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Sam said he is listening to his mom and the new rules have him worried. Schools without mask mandates face penalties from the state education board. Their argument, in a nutshell, is if a school is going to order masks or remove a kid from school for not following COVID-19 policies, the district needs to get parental consent or a court order. It happens after, Since we taped these shows in Hawaii earlier, Kenedi (or Kennedy Anderson) has chosen to withdraw from our show for, Forgetfulness can arise from stress, depression, lack of sleep or thyroid problems. An Illinois appellate court late Thursday evening dismissed Gov. "What that says right thereis what I've been saying for months, that (Pritzker's) executive orders are just fearmongering," DeVore said. The state of Illinois announced it will appeal the decision,with Pritzker late Friday calling the ruling "misguided.". According to District 86, about 55 of students at Hinsdale Central refused to wear a mask Monday; they were given the choice ot go to the auditorium or back home. Chicago Public Schools and its 350,000 students will continue masking. All Rights Reserved. Same goes for certain school staff who don't want to take weekly COVID-19 tests for not being vaccinated. Some are comfortable with the switch to a mask optional policy, while others are not. This decision sends the message that all students do not have the same right to safely access schools and classrooms in Illinois, particularly if they have disabilities or other health concerns, Raoul said in a statement. Illinois school mask mandate in hundreds of districts in jeopardy after "We have zero documentation other than what we've found online," saidSean OLaughlin on Thursday afternoon. MACOUPIN CO., Ill. (WCIA)- A long list of parents filed a lawsuit against 145 school districts in Illinois Wednesday. "Really, the sole purpose of the plan is to provide stability for our schools so we don't get caught in this flipping back and forth between legal cases because those are out of our control and we wanted to focus on what we could control," Cox said. It prioritizes a relatively small group of plaintiffs who refuse to follow widely-accepted science over the rights of other students, faculty and staff to enter schools without the fear of contracting a virus that has claimed the lives of more than 31,000 Illinois residents - or taking that virus home to their loved ones. Unlike most of the suits filed by DeVore and others in the last 18 months, Mondays lawsuit does not challenge Pritzkers ability to issue continuous disaster declarations beyond the 30-day period provided for in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, or IEMAA. A temporary restraining order issued Friday by Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow has reduced schools' ability to require masks and vaccinations. "I have a daughter that is a little speech delayed. Though the statewide mask mandate . J.B. Pritzker. SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- A downstate Illinois judge ruled against the state's school mandates, including masking, in response to lawsuits involving parents and teachers from more than. Metro East schools make policy changes after Illinois judge's - KSDK -Geneva School District 304: School canceled Monday. Illinois continues school mask mandate despite court ruling - Chalkbeat It prohibited schools from requiring the plaintiffs kids to wear a mask unless there was consent or a court order. What to know about the ruling on Illinois school mask mandate lawsuit J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education last year, arguing there was no due process in Illinois statewide mask order. ranted one parent. "I'm not sure who you represent but it is not us," said another parent. Cary School District 26 has about 2,400 students. As one of the districts named in the lawsuit that resulted in the temporary restraining order, administrators said removing the mask mandate for their schools was a legal decision. J.B. Pritzker's emergency rules for COVID-19 mitigations in schools "null and void,", New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Chicago Suburb Lands on List of Happiest Places to Live,' Another Midwest City Makes Top 10, Chicago-Area Counties Under Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings, Stomach Bug Cases Surging, Sending People to Emergency Rooms in Chicago Area. "We expect the mayor and CPS to act responsibly and uphold our agreement to require masks providing KN95 masks for every adult and child in our schools," CTU said in a statement. The judge filed a temporary restraining order against Bond CountyCommunity UnitSchool DistrictNo. In September, a judge there ordered a preliminary injunction in a case that has not gone to trial yet. J.B. Pritzker, ISBE and 16 school districts in Lake and McHenry counties over the states school mask mandate and other COVID rules. It's a big change for students and parents at Robert Frost Junior High School in Schaumburg. Illinois parents file lawsuit against 145 school districts, Pritzker By Kenzie Dillow. and other people were like, 'I'm still gonna wear it.' . Lawsuit seeks to block mask mandates, exclusion rules . You do not need to show proof of vaccination in Chicago and Cook County. TheFourth District Appellate Courtis one of five districts of theIllinois Appellate Court. School systems cannot require masks, but individuals may choose to wear masks. NBC 5 talked to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, about the state of COVID-19 in Illinois. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Parents from eight Peoria-area school districts are participating in a lawsuit aimed at abolishing mask requirements in schools. That bill, HB 2789, passed the Illinois House on party lines in April, but never received a vote on the Senate floor this spring before the legislature adjourned. Some 60% of new colorectal cancers in . Masks optional but encouraged. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education last year, arguing there was no due process in Illinois' statewide mask order. Chicago Public Schools to continue mask mandate | WBEZ Chicago If such overreach is allowed to stand, the separation of powers will have been reduced to ashes and the executive will be allowed to disregard the legislature and create law, rules and regulations at his or her pleasure, the suit said. A Sangamon County judge issued the order after 145 school districts, including Rockridge, were named in a lawsuit in October 2021. There are exceptions. All rights reserved, Indiana State Trooper Struck and Killed by Suspect During Police Chase, Chicago FOP Lodge Reelects John Catanzara as President. The districts said all other current COVID-19 mitigation protocols will. On Tuesday, the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rulesrejected an emergency rule proposed by IDPH which would have outlined the requirements for schools to "exclude" certain students based on their exposure to COVID-19as well as require masks for students and teachers. Illinois schools put on probation over COVID mask mandate | Belleville ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Parents from 145 school districts in Illinois are suing Gov. This shows yet again that the mask mandate and school exclusion protocols are essential tools to keep schools open and everyone safe.. Community Consolidated School District 181, which has schools in Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, and Burr Ridge, said Monday will be an emergency remote instruction day. Parents from 145 Illinois school districts filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday against their respective districts, Gov. Parents from Dunlap, two school districts in Metamora, Germantown Hills, Eureka, Brimfield, Mortonand Limestone in Bartonville are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. What to know about the ruling on Illinois school mask mandate lawsuit READ: Judge Raylene Grischow's full ruling here. DeVore rose to prominence among conservatives last year for filing numerous lawsuits against Pritzkers administration for COVID mitigations, most famously a suit that freed just one person State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) from the governors stay-at-home orders.