Will County area school districts continue to weigh whether to require mask wearing

Plans for upcoming school year come as COVID-19 cases continue to increase

School districts in Will County have continued to debate and implement their mitigation policies as the new school year quickly approaches and new COVID-19 cases are on the rise locally.

Despite worries of increasing transmission, school officials are moving forward with holding in-person learning full time for the year, as directed by state policy.

However, certain mitigation strategies such as whether to mandate that students wear face masks, are continuing to cause an uproar among parents and activists. Many have attended their school board meetings to vociferously voice their opinions.

During Monday night’s meeting of the Lockport Township High School District 205 board, several community members urged the district to not require students to wear masks.

“It’s a recommendation,” said Will County Board member Steve Balich, R-Homer Glen, during the meeting’s public comments. “It is not a law. You don’t need them. That’s not the way we’re supposed to live in America. We’re not supposed to live in fear or live under a tyrant or anybody telling us what we have to do.”

Lockport Township High School, education, covid-19, coronavirus

District 205 Superintendent Robert McBride detailed his administration’s plan, which called for universal masking if community transmission of the virus was at a “substantial” or “high” level, meaning the area was recording at least 50 new cases per 100,000 residents.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists Will County as having “substantial” transmission and the county’s tested positivity rate increased fivefold during July.

McBride said a district survey found that 61% of about 1,500 respondents did not want masks to be required, while 39% said they wanted universal masking.

“It tells you, that you’ve got some discord in the community,” McBride said of the survey results.

The district conducted the survey before the Illinois Board of Education updated its mask guidance last week advising that all students and staff should wear a mask indoors regardless of their vaccination status.

The District 205 School Board then voted, 5-2, to adopt the administration’s plan, including the mask policy. Right after the vote, a few attendees yelled “Shame on you” to the board.

Plainfield School District 202

Lincoln-Way School District 210 published its return plan on social media Friday, under which it would only require universal mask wearing if community transmission was high. However, the district said it would be “supportive of an individual who continues to wear a face mask in any setting.”

The District 210 School Board will meet Aug. 12 to further discuss the plan, spokeswoman Jen Hannon said.

The district also said it will host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic next Monday at Lincoln-Way Central High School for anyone older than 12. The school is located at 1801 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox.

The Diocese of Joliet Catholic Schools Office announced via a Facebook post it also was recommending, but not requiring, that masks be worn by all students, teachers, staff and visitors to its schools, regardless of vaccination status.

The Diocese post also said it was “staying the course” with its policy from last month, allowing parents to decide whether their children would wear a mask.

“If there is a significant change in the infection rate, schools will need to increase the level of mitigation, including the use of masks for all,” the Diocese said in its post. “Every action we have taken to date has worked in keeping our students and staff safe and healthy.”

The Diocese runs more than 50 schools with more than 16,000 students across five counties, including Will County.