Lincoln-Way District 210 To Give Update On Mask Policy Thursday

MANHATTAN, IL — Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 is expected to provide updates on its mask policy and safe return and instruction policies at its Board of Education meeting Thursday. The updates come after Illinois JB Pritzker issued a state-wide mandate for all schools and daycares to require students, faculty and staff— regardless of vaccination status — to wear masks while inside schools.

Lincoln-Way D210 has three schools in the area with a total student population of about 6,600: Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way West in New Lenox, and Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort.
The governor's mandate has schools across the state scrambling to update its policies, which prior to the latest mandate had left the decision on masks up to individual school districts.

On July 30, the District had updated its mask policy to read, "The CDC recommends that masks be worn by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated. Lincoln-Way District 210 is supportive of an individual who continues to wear a face mask in any setting. No assumptions or judgement will be made against those individuals who are vaccine eligible, but continue to wear a mask."

That was when Will County was in the "substantial" transmission of coronavirus category, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; however, the county was placed into the "high" transmission category Aug. 3, one day before the new mandate went into effect.
In addition to the mask mandate, the governor's order calls for schools to increase mitigation steps, such as such as:

• physical distancing
• ventilation
• handwashing and respiratory etiquette
• advising individuals to stay home when sick and get tested
• contact tracing in combination with appropriate quarantine and isolation
• and cleaning and disinfection of surfaces

LW D210 Superintendent Scott Tingley wrote on the District's website Aug. 6 that, "Additional guidance is expected from IDPH and ISBE in response to the governor’s mandate. The Lincoln-Way administration continues to plan for the beginning of the school year, and students will have full-day, in-person instruction, five days per week.

"The Lincoln-Way District 210 Safe Return to Instruction Plan will be updated to reflect this latest mandate, including revised quarantine information. The updated plan will be shared with families via email next week."

The District's Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Lincoln-Way Central High School, 1801 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox.

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