SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Wednesday heard from officials and parents regarding the school mask mandate that requires everyone to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Several people spoke during the public participation portion of the meeting, asking ISBE to leave the decision on mask mandates to each school district.
Some parents said they refuse to send their children to school with a mask.
Many also expressed concerns about the effects of wearing masks all day, especially for those with allergies or disabilities.
School officials, on the other hand, said they’re worried about teachers and staff enforcing the mandate and dealing with angry parents.
Prior to the public comments, State Schools Superintendent Carmen Ayala said it was important, from her perspective, for kids to wear masks in school.
“We are seeing pediatric ICUs at capacity — we’re seeing hospitals having to turn away cancer patients and heart attack victims because they have no beds available,” said Ayala.
Westville Superintendent Seth Miller raised questions about enforcement of the mandate.
“I appreciate the state police presence here today to make me feel like it’s not going to get too crazy,” said Miller. “On Monday, when our kids come, we won’t have the state police in front of that first grade teacher trying to deal with the students that may come without a mask.”
Ayala, at the beginning of the meeting, said ISBE is taking the mandate very seriously and that masks are necessary to protect students, teachers, and the community.
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