Plano School Board to host special meeting, vote on mask mandate

After delaying a vote, the Plano School District 88 board will host a special meeting on Monday and is expected to decide whether or not to require masks for students and staff this upcoming school year.

The board was expected to vote on the matter at its July 19 meeting at Plano Middle School, but chose to delay a vote after Superintendent Tony Baker said he and district administrators wanted more time to bring a fully developed proposal to the board.

Baker told the board that he and the PSD 88 administration “don’t feel strongly enough” that the district has enough information to put forward a recommendation on masks.

“We all want to return to normal,” Baker said. “I think I speak for every one of these board members I’ve had individual conversations with. We all want to return to normal. We do have to do it in a safe manner.

“The scenario related to masks that I just can’t grasp yet, is the scenario that even though a kid might come to school without a mask, and the parents are confident that the child is not in a mask, if we’re still guided by [Illinois Department of Public Health] to quarantine a student that is in close contact with a positive case. Those are frustrating calls for our staff. Those are frustrating calls for working parents. Those are the challenges that go on behind the scenes.”

The board also voted July 19 to delete the district’s previous policy regarding face coverings, something Baker called a “first step” in the district’s process.

The board’s special meeting will be at 6 p.m., Aug. 2, in the auditorium of Plano High School, 704 W. Abe St.

Decisions by other districts

As Plano delayed its vote, other area school districts are making their stance on masks and face coverings known.

During its July 12 meeting, the Oswego School District 308 board voted, 6-0, with one member abstaining, to make masks optional for students and staff in the 2021-22 school year.

A statement issued by Sandwich School District 430 confirmed that the district also will make masks optional for students and staff in the upcoming school year.

However, both Sandwich and Oswego officials said that masks will be required for all students and staff while on school transportation.

Yorkville School District 115 has sent a survey to district families and staff members to gauge reactions and feelings on masks. A working committee of “a diverse group of stakeholders” met Tuesday, July 27, and will create a recommendation for the district. A vote on face masks is expected at the Aug. 9 meeting of the District 115 school board.