PEORIA, Ill. – One judge says “no” to a mask mandate for schools, an appellate court ruling possibly Thursday on that suit, the legislative Joint Committee on Administrative Rules rejecting an extension of that mandate, the rest of the state getting out of an indoor mask mandate at the end of the month.
If you think you’re confused, try being the Peoria County Regional Superintendent of Schools right now.
“The current situation is confusing and frustrating,” said Beth Crider, to news partner 25 News. “The State of Illinois is a very diverse place. And, every community is different in how they’re approaching this.”
Peoria Public Schools, for example, are still requiring masks as it was a part of their Return to School Plan, while Governor J-B Pritzker wants the mandate to still apply to districts not suing the state.
“It is very hard to try to take in all of these diverse sources of information, and figure out what is the next best step for the entire community, when there are many voices that are making their opinions known,” said Crider.
While some parents claim that children are miserable wearing masks in schools, others 25 News talked with are saying their kids either are happy to, or otherwise don’t seem to mind.
Some parents have threatened their own lawsuits, and several in the area are now filing their own suits in Sangamon County, where a judge favored the mask mandate being lifted.
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