PEORIA, Ill. — COVID-19 containment policies at Illinois schools like masking, vaccine and testing requirements have been temporarily blocked for some districts following an order issued by an Illinois Judge.
On Friday, a judge in Sangamon County ruled in favor of parents and teachers of nearly 170 school districts seeking to have the controversial public health and State Department of Education policies overturned.
The measures were introduced when Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order on Sept. 17, 2021.
In her ruling, the judge said the Governor’s order was implemented, “under the guise of an emergency,” and she hinted that Illinois lawmakers should have been the ones to pass laws dictating COVID-19 containment at Illinois schools, not the Governor.
The original lawsuit was brought by attorney Thomas DeVore, a well known lawyer in Southern Illinois.
The ruling only applies to plaintiff school districts in the case, but includes Roanoke Benson No. 60, Morton No. 709, and Germantown Hills No. 122, Dunlap No. 323, Metamore Township High School, Metamora Community Consolidated, Eureka No. 140, Brimfield No. 309, El Paso-Gridley No. 11, Prairie Central No. 8 and Limestone No. 310.
A statement from the Illinois Federation of Teachers said the teachers union was, “greatly distressed” by the decision.
Governor Pritzker has already announced his attorney general is seeking an expedited appeals decision on the matter.
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