School Workers File Lawsuit Against District Over Vaccine Mandate

ST. CHARLES, IL — Four school employees are in a legal battle with districts in St. Charles and Geneva over Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's vaccine mandate.

The group brought the complaint in Kane County Circuit Court Friday, arguing their employers have no right to force them to get vaccinated or tested for COVID-19.

St. Charles Unit District 303 second-grade teacher Nicole Cournaya, middle school teacher Jeffrey Otterby, administrative assistant Christine White and Geneva Unit District 304 bus driver instructor Terry Todd are all challenging the mandate.

The governor's order, issued in August, required school employees to receive at least one dose of a vaccine by Sept. 5 or be tested for weekly for the virus.

According to the group's attorney, Patrick Walsh, the four are asking for a temporary restraining order against both districts in order to give the court more time to hear evidence. The next hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Kane County Courthouse.

According to the lawsuit, the complaint was filed against both districts and their superintendents.

The lawsuit says the districts are infringing on the four employees' rights by enforcing a "modified quarantine" and not allowing them access to school grounds, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The same reasoning has been used by downstate attorney Thomas DeVore, who previously filed suit over statewide mask mandates. DeVore argued in court that only the Illinois Department of Public Health has the power to enforce a quarantine, not the governor.

A representative from St. Charles School District told Patch in an email the district is aware of the lawsuit and is working with legal counsel to ensure the safety of their in-person students.

Officials from Geneva School District 304 were not immediately available for comment.