District 303 Will Not Require Masks

ST. CHARLES, IL — St. Charles District 303 will be recommending, but not requiring, students and staff wear masks when they return to school on Tuesday.

The school district took an emergency day Monday in order to implement and respond to a ruling made Friday by a downstate judge in favor of a temporary restraining order, which lifted requirements on masking in schools. District 303 was among more than 140 school distorts listed in the lawsuit.

District 303 officials "highly recommend" students and staff continue to wear masks to "lessen the spread of COVID-19 in our schools," according to District 303 letter to parents. Masks will be required on busses and all school-based transportation.

"As a community we are nearing a time when declining cases will allow us to return to a sense of normalcy. We ask that everyone works together to continue to support the safety of our students and staff by wearing masks for now," according to a statement.

District 303 will also be implementing the following changes:

• Due to the ruling, District 303 will not be contact tracing or excluding close contacts.
• Per the Kane County Health Department, students and staff who test positive will still be required to isolate and be excluded from school.
• Students or staff who are currently excluded due to being a close contact may choose to return to school effective Tuesday, Feb 8.
• SHIELD Testing will continue to be available for those who choose to participate.
• Staff members who are unvaccinated will not be required to test weekly.

District 303 officials said masking rules could soon change if the lawsuit is overturned by the Illinois State Board of Appeals, which means universal masking would again be in place.

In order to implement and respond to the TRO requirements, District 303 will be CLOSED for an EMERGENCY DAY on MONDAY, February 7. There will be NO SCHOOL for students and staff. All after-school events are also canceled. The school day will be made up at the end of the school year on Wednesday, May 25.