LW D210 Updates School Opening Plan

MANHATTAN, IL — Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 updated at its Thursday meeting its return to school policy. The policy now reflects the state-wide mask mandate issued by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker that was announced Aug. 4.

The updated policy was not listed as an action item on the agenda, and, therefore, required no vote from the Board. The updates were discussed during the informational presentations portions of the meeting.

“It was not an action item this evening. It’s not necessarily a discretionary item at this time, and we hope to provide opportunities, both academically and extracurricularly, to our students as we move through the beginning of the school year," said Lincoln-Way D210 Superintendent Scott Tingley.

He added that he expects an update on the mask mandate from the governor on Oct. 4.

The mask mandate for all Illinois schools and daycares has touched off a firestorm of debate among those who view the mandate as an infringement on their right to decide what is best for their children and those who view the mandate as necessary to curb the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19.

Multiple people spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting to voice their displeasure over the mandate. Their comments were met with applause from those in attendance at the meeting.

Tingley said he empathized with parents on the issue, and said he would continue to advocate for them.

"As a parent, I completely understand all perspectives," he said. "Our administration would recommend that we do what we can as we work through this. You need to know that when I talk to the Will County Health Department, when I talk to the Illinois State Board of Education, I advocate for our District to make their decisions. I have since the beginning of this."

Related: Elmhurst School Denies Mask Noncompliance

Other Board members expressed their frustration over the mandate, specifically that the choice was taken away from local school districts and placed in the hands of the governor.

“I thought the plan we had on Aug. 4 was a good plan," said Board member Joseph Kirkeeng."It made recommendations, but it didn’t require, until the governor took that away. He brought in the [Illinois State Board of Education] to state that ‘If you don’t do as I say, these are your consequences.’ And they’re punitive. What really disappoints me is that we have — this is a personal opinion, not an opinion of the Board — a so-called leader in Springfield who doesn’t believe we can be adult enough to make our own decisions."

Prior to the update announced Thursday, Lincoln-Way D210's mask policy stated: "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."

Tingley said that the District will closely monitor case numbers at each of the District's three schools: Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way West in New Lenox, and Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort.

Readers can view the full opening plan on the District's website.

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