Orland Park Schools Go Mask-Optional, Some Don't After New Ruling

ORLAND PARK, IL — Multiple school districts in Orland Park notified parents Sunday that its schools would be going mask optional after a Sangamon County judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday afternoon declaring 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.

In a letter posted Sunday on the District's website, District No. 230 Superintendent Robert Nolting wrote that the District plans to follow the Temporary Restraining Order especially since the schools were all named in the original complaint.

"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.

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

Masks will still be required on buses because that is a federal guideline, all districts specified.

District 135:

• Students and staff will not be required to wear masks on school property.
• All students will have to abide by masking laws on school buses, however.
• "These next few days and the potential for additional rulings in the coming weeks will provide new challenges for our families, students, and staff," said Superintendent John Bryk in a letter to parents. "I ask that everyone please be kind to each other and respect the choices of families, students, and staff when it comes to masking."

District 230:

• All staff and students are required to follow YELLOW mitigation measures, which means masking is recommended but not required. Specifically, seven students from District 230 who were named in the complaint are not required to mask at all.
• Masks are still required for all students and staff on buses.
• Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 will still have to wear a mask for six to 10 days after returning from isolation, but any students in close contact with the infected individual will not be required to quarantine if they do not have symptoms.

District 140:

• Since District 140 was not named in the suit, masking requirements will remain in place for students and staff.
• Superintendent Shawn Olsen said the school would wait for a decision after the appeal to guide the District's final decision.
• "As we return to school [Monday], we recognize that members of our school community have differing feelings and opinions regarding these measures," said Olsen. "Unfortunately, schools have been put in untenable positions throughout the pandemic and now is no different."

District 146:

• After reviewing the order with legal counsel, school officials said the District would follow the updated order and wait for more information to come.
• Masks are still required for all people on school buses.