At the March 1 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Board of Education unanimously affirmed the shift to “mask optional” schools and the revised COVID-19 mitigation protocols implemented to support the change. The Board’s action confirms that students, staff, and school visitors will have the option to wear face masks at all District 90 buildings.
The rationale for this action rests on numerous factors, including Governor Pritzker’s recent reversal of masking mandates, the current stability of local COVID-19 transmission rates, and the high levels of staff and student vaccination rates, among other reasons. The District will continue to apply other established safety mitigation protocols, including physical distancing, outbreak testing, ventilation and air circulation, adherence to handwash regimens, school cleaning and disinfection, confirmed case monitoring, and vaccination and booster dose promotion. Plans to remove any of these COVID-19 safety mitigation protocols will be implemented incrementally as health conditions remain stable or improve. Face masks will continue to be available at all school buildings to any student, staff member, or visitor who desires them.
Access the revised District 90 COVID-19 Protocols for Exclusion and Masking and the COVID-19 Face Mask Tiers, which outlines the information that the District will rely upon for decision-making if a COVID-19 resurgence requires changes to mask-wearing protocols in the future.