advertisement

District 225 staying the course on masks until state school mandate official ends

The tug of war between opponents and proponents of masking policy returned to the Glenbrook High Schools District 225 board meeting on Monday.

When it was all over, the board stood pat.

Twenty-three people took turns speaking their 2-minute piece, some needing to be called from an anteroom that held the overflow of attendees.

People contributed often compelling, sometimes emotional, arguments on both sides of the issue.

Those who sought to retain the district's mask policy implored the board to "follow the science" and asked, "whose life is trivial?" Some were hopeful a mask mandate for schools will soon depart, but "it's not time yet."

Others, some emboldened by the temporary restraining order a downstate circuit court judge issued Feb. 4 against Gov. J.B. Pritzker's school mask mandate, questioned the science pro-mask speakers espoused. They said masking students has created a "crisis of mental health."

At times feeling like a battle for field position in a football game, after well over an hour of public comment speakers who favored either no masks or a mask-optional stance at Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South slightly outnumbered those who sought to have students continue to wear masks until otherwise officially directed.

However, board President Bruce Doughty's statement at the meeting's outset - "this board follows the law" - held firm.

Superintendent Charles Johns said that, because the district is not among the 145 statewide districts listed as defendants in the suit subject to the restraining order, nor is the district within the ruling's jurisdiction, "that case does not apply to us."

He had confirmed with the Cook County Department of Public Health that the district remained under Pritzker's mandate, though Johns anticipates change over the next several weeks for several reasons.

Although schools are not affected, Johns noted that, last week, when Pritzker announced the end of indoor mask mandates for most public places starting Feb. 28, the governor also hinted that changes for schools would be coming.

Johns also said the governor's executive order establishing a mask mandate expires on March 5 and there may be an appellate court ruling on the temporary restraining order as early as today.

"I think what we're seeing here is things are turning in the right direction, and I think it's on our horizon. We simply don't know when," Johns said.

When that time does come, the superintendent said, those students and staff members who choose to continue wearing a mask must be honored.

"We have to do so in a way that prevents people from being bullied for those decisions," Johns said. "Because those are health decisions, those are personal, they're very important. And we want to return to the environment that made this community so strong, in which we look out for each other and we treat each other with kindness."

Board member Skip Shein cited the several speakers who mentioned or brought with them students with disabilities. For these students, Shein didn't think a "one size fits all" policy would be appropriate.

Johns responded that administration must connect on a case-by-case basis with students and staff members who have concerns under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Status quo maintained on masks, the board later looked at its 2022-23 recommended school operating budget. This expenditure covers the gamut, from department budgets and activity stipends to transportation costs and building maintenance supplies.

The operating budget is built by a basic allocation split evenly between Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South, and per-student spending.

Each school is targeted to receive a basic allocation of more than $2.16 million. Glenbrook North, with an anticipated 2,074 students in 2022-23, will receive a little more than $566,000 in per-student allocation; Glenbrook South, with an estimated 3,019 students, will receive slightly over $824,000.

The total $6 million operating budget includes a transfer of $150,000 to each school's basic allocation from a fund containing teacher extra-day expenses. This budget shows a 3% increase over the prior year to cover a projected increase, particularly to transportation costs.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.