Sunday, February 6, 2022
Dear Parents and Staff,
As many of you are aware, late on Friday, February 4, 2022 Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow entered a temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting the defendant school districts from (i) requiring students and teachers to wear masks, absent a lawful order of quarantine issued in conformance with the IDPH Act; (ii) excluding students and teachers based on an alleged close contact unless due process is afforded and IDPH procedures are followed; and (iii) requiring weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated employees without first providing due process of law. Also, in case you are not aware, the Jasper County Community Unit School District No. 1 was named a defendant in both lawsuits pertaining to students and staff. As a result, the judge’s order bars the District from enforcing these COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Therefore, beginning Monday, February 7, 2022, we are implementing a “mask recommended” mitigation strategy in the District. While the District encourages the use of masks and COVID-19 testing, it will not exclude students or staff who choose not to wear a mask.
Additionally, the District will not exclude students or employees identified as “close contacts” to a positive COVID-19 case who are asymptomatic and will no longer conduct contact tracing. Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 will remain excluded from school for the time periods set forth in the IDPH’s Exclusion Protocol. Finally, school district personnel are not required to provide proof of vaccination or submit to weekly testing. The District will continue implementing other mitigation strategies, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and deep cleaning/disinfecting of schools.
We recognize that community members feel strongly about COVID-19 mitigation measures, and that this change in practice will be a transition for all. We are committed to respecting all students and staff, regardless of whether they choose to wear a mask or not. Teaching and learning will remain the focus in our class. We ask for your partnership in ensuring that our schools remain welcoming and safe environments for all students to learn and play regardless of personal masking decisions.
In closing, I must emphasize that this litigation is ongoing. It is anticipated that the Governor, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Illinois State Board of Education (the State Defendants), will immediately appeal the Judge’s order to the appellate court seeking to reverse the TRO. In fact, the State Defendants have already requested that Judge Grischow stay the enforcement of the TRO until the appellate court rules on the matter, and are filing a similar motion to stay the enforcement of the TRO in the appellate court. While the District is not appealing the ruling, please be aware that it is entirely possible that Judge Grischow’s order may be stayed as early as Monday, and could be reversed on appeal within two weeks. This would effectively reinstate the Governor’s Executive Orders and IDPH/ISBE rule regarding masks, exclusion for “close contacts” and vaccine/testing mandates for staff. As a result, we will continue to update our school district community as soon as we receive more information. We appreciate our community’s support, patience, and continued flexibility in these challenging times.
Sincerely yours in Education,
Andrew D. Johnson & Jasper County Board of Education Members
See below for information regarding masking mandates at JCCU1.
