District 230 Goes Mask Optional After Being Named In Court Ruling

ORLAND PARK, IL — Multiple school districts across the south suburbs notified parents Sunday that schools would be going mask optional after a Sangamon County judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday afternoon.

The order, which named District 230, declared certain emergency rules adopted last year by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education are void.

The ruling means that students who do not want to wear a mask and unvaccinated school staff who do not want to be required to be vaccinated or take weekly COVID-19 tests must be afforded due process.

In response, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul will seek expedited appeal of the order, which came in response to several lawsuits filed against nearly 170 school districts by parents and school staff.

Earlier: Judge Blocks School Mask Mandate, Voids COVID-19 Emergency Orders

In a letter posted Sunday on the district's website, District No. 230 Superintendent Robert Nolting wrote that the district is required to follow the Temporary Restraining Order, especially for the seven students from the three-school district who were named as complainants.

"It's important to note that the legal process is still ongoing and legal decisions may be made in the days and weeks to come that require the district to make adjustments," Nolting said. "The Judge's ruling will be met with varied responses from members of our school community. It is important that we remain focused on our shared goal of educating students in a learning environment where every individual feels safe and supported."

The district operates three high schools — Stagg, Andrew and Sandburg — and draws students from Orland Park, Oak Forest, Orland Hills, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Tinley Park and more.

Nolting noted Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education are appealing the latest order and that the district would abide by whatever decision comes from the appeal.

For now, students in the district will be fast-tracked to the "YELLOW" mitigation measures which recommend masking, but don't require it. Other notable changes include lessening social distancing measures from 10 feet to 6. Students who test positive for COVID-19 will still have to wear a mask for six to 10 days after returning from isolation though any students who come in close contact with the infected individual will not be required to quarantine if they do not have symptoms.

More: IL School Mask Ruling 'Cultivates Chaos,' Gov. JB Pritzker Says

While District 230 did not file an appeal for the case, they did file a motion to dismiss shortly after the school was named. According to Nolting, the group is concerned with gaining local control.

"[Judge Grischow] erroneously presumed that “The fact remains, no school district had policies in effect that required masking, testing, exclusion…Any policies that were adopted were done in response…to the Governor’s emergency declaration.” That is not accurate in the case of District 230. The Governor’s Mask Mandate Executive Order was passed on August 4th, our board was presented with and affirmed our plan on July 29th," Nolting said in a detailed analysis of the school's decision to move to the YELLOW phase.

According to Nolting, Stagg, Andrew and Sandburg were already in a place to ease restrictions, though officials planned to continue requiring masks while the Omicron variant was present.

Read District 230's statement here.