Masks optional in District 58 starting Monday

Masks will be optional in Downers Grove Grade School District 58 schools starting on Monday.

School board members on Thursday voted to make changes to the district’s COVID-19 mitigation plan, such as no no longer requiring unvaccinated district staff to submit to weekly testing. Additionally, “close contacts” are no longer required to stay home from school.

Masks are still required on district transportation, per federal mandate.

“The updates will begin on Monday to give staff time to prepare and to have conversations with students. We ask all families and staff to please respect this decision and to continue to follow all COVID-19 mitigation measures, including wearing masks, while at school on Friday, Feb. 11,” according to a memo sent to the District 58 community.

Despite the policy change, the district encourage students, staff and visitors to wear masks in alignment with Illinois Department of Public Health guidance.

“The guidance also recommends a layered approach to removing mitigations, which is what District 58 will do,” the memo said. “District 58′s instructional spacing will remain at three feet, and lunch and recess will be handled in the same way as they are today. In addition, staff will maintain six feet of distancing in instructional spaces to the greatest extent possible. The district will also provide additional PPE, including KN95 masks, to staff upon request.”

“Finally, District 58 asks all families and staff to please respect one another’s mask choices and to treat each other with kindness. District 58 teaches its students to be kind and respectfully requests everyone to lead by example,” the memo stated.

The temporary restraining order (TRO) against Gov. JB Pritzker’s mask mandate has already been appealed, and motions to stay the TRO have been filed. It is possible that the TRO will be overturned.

If the TRO is overturned, District 58 will immediately review and follow the court decision, and this might mean that District 58 will require masks in schools again. School districts that ignore or refuse to comply with state mandates risk losing accreditation, state funding and insurance coverage, the memo said.