St. Charles School District 303 conducting mask survey in light of new CDC guidance for universal masking in schools

St. Charles School District 303 is surveying parents about whether their child will wear a mask when they start classes on Aug. 11.

The district is conducting the survey in light of new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that everyone in K-12 schools where a mask indoors – including teachers, staff, students and visitors – regardless of vaccination status.

The CDC on Tuesday announced the new guidance to prevent further spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant. Prior to the CDC announcing its new guidance, the St. Charles School Board decided to make make masks optional for the upcoming school year. Dist. 303 students are set to start school on Aug. 11.

The survey asks parents to make a selection for each child:

__My child will follow the CDC/IDPH guidelines for wearing a mask while at school.

__I understand that the CDC/IDPH recommends universal indoor masking for all students regardless of vaccination status, however, I am making the choice to allow my child to attend school without a mask.

“This information will help the district as we continue to respond to changing guidance,” the district states.

Masks will still be required on school buses.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has announced that it is adopting the CDC’s new guidance. The IDPH issued a statement on Monday warning school district that “in addition to the health and safety reasons for following the CDC’s guidance, school districts that decide not to follow the CDC’s guidance should consult with their insurers regarding risk assumption and liability coverage. Insurers may be unwilling to cover liabilities created as a result of failure to adhere to public health guidance.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending all students, teachers and staff wear masks inside schools when classes resume to protect unvaccinated children from COVID-19 and reduce transmissions. Children age 11 and younger are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.

The district’s current plan recommends students and staff members who are not fully vaccinated should wear masks while inside. But masks will not be mandated.

Masks will not be not required while Dist. 303 students and staff members are outside when physical distancing can be maintained, according to the district’s current plan. All staff must wear a mask unless they provide proof of vaccination or are enrolled in the district’s screening testing program.