Two northwest Illinois schools named as lawsuit defendants will comply with judge’s mask order

Schools in Erie and Fulton that were defendants in the lawsuit challenging Gov. JB Pritzker’s mask requirements both said they would comply with a temporary restraining order issued Friday by a Sangamon County judge.

When classes resume Monday at Erie Community Unit School District 1 and River Bend Community Unit School District, neither will require masks as a COVID-19 mitigation.

In separate letters sent to parents, both school districts said they were adopting “mask recommended” policies for their school day and extracurricular activities.

Both districts said that masks would continue to be required on school buses, citing the Federal Public Health Service Act.

Both also called the situation “very fluid” and potentially temporary.

Erie Superintendent Charles A. Milem said “We will continue to focus on student learning and growing together.”

He pointed out that in the past week there was only one positive COVID-19 case for the entire district.

River Bend Superintendent Darryl Hogue thanked families and staff “for your perseverance, grace and support as we navigate this together.”

Hogue also said positive cases were at the lowest level of the school year, with no positive cases being reported at Fulton Elementary, River Bend Middle or Fulton High School.

Although the judge’s order stops the exclusion from school students for being close contacts, both districts said they would do their best to identify positive COVID-19 cases.