No Face Masks In School, Bus Will Result In Disciplinary Measures

OSWEGO, IL — Students of the Oswego School District 308 will be required to wear a face mask or covering inside the building and the bus. Failure to comply with this rule could result in disciplinary measures against them, the district stated in its guidelines for reopening schools this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The guidelines prepared by the district states that students who refuse to wear a face covering are subject to discipline ranging from, "detention, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, and removal to a remote-learning platform during the pendency of the directive to wear face coverings while at school."

This is what is required of the students:

• All individuals in schools must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth at all times while in school buildings and on school buses, even when maintaining social distance, in accordance with guidance established by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.
• Face coverings are not required on school property outside of the buildings if individuals are able to remain 6 feet apart from each other.
• Face coverings may be removed for limited periods of time as necessary for a student to eat/drink.
• The Illinois Emergency Management Agency announced last month that it would provide public K-12 schools in Illinois with masks for students. Students may wear the district-issued face mask or another cloth face covering that complies with recommendations in the student handbook.
• Clear face shields will not be considered an appropriate substitution for face coverings as they do not offer the same level of protection against the coronavirus.

Administrators confirmed that a student's refusal to comply with coronavirus-related restrictions would fall under the "Gross Misconduct/Disobedience" portion of the district's rights and responsibilities handbook for students.

Those students who have a medical contraindication to wearing a face covering, may request an accommodation, such as a face shield. The decision to recognize an exemption or accommodation will be made "on a case-by-case basis." Students who had made a request for an exemption or accommodation that is denied, must wear a face covering that is in compliance with district requirements.

During the Tuesday Board of Education meeting, district administrators said alternatives to face coverings for students with medical exemptions may include face shields or greater social distancing. Silicone bands will be issued to students with specific exemptions, to help easily identify those exemptions that prevent them from wearing a mask or similar face covering.

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