The Fourth District Appellate Court ruled early Friday that Illinois' indoor mask requirement in schools has expired and the appeal made by the Illinois attorney general against a temporary restraining order issued Feb. 4 barring schools from enforcing it was dismissed. Both districts are among dozens of schools systems that are defendants in legal challenges waged by downstate attorney Tom DeVore, who argued Pritzker exceeded his authority with requirements that students and teachers wear masks inside schools, that unvaccinated school employees provide negative COVID-19 test results and that close contacts of infected people stay home. New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Chicago Suburb Lands on List of Happiest Places to Live,' Another Midwest City Makes Top 10, Chicago-Area Counties Under Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings, Stomach Bug Cases Surging, Sending People to Emergency Rooms in Chicago Area. ILLINOIS, USA A central Illinois judge has issued a temporary restraining order that prevents school districts statewide from requiring students to wear masks in classrooms, saying Gov.. The governor's office issued a news release saying schools may be forced to go remote if they don't have proper tools to keep students and staff safe. Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow issued the order Friday afternoon in a lawsuit brought by hundreds of parents in more than 145 school districts who claim the mask order denies students due process. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. A central Illinois judge has issued a temporary restraining order that prevents school districts statewide that were sued from requiring students to wear masks in classrooms . That hearing is set for Nov. 5. Parents filed suit against more than 140 school districts, Gov. Weather explainer: What is a River Flood Warning? Some exceptions to the order apply. Pritzker later responded to the decision; asking the Attorney General's Office to grant an immediate appeal. Attorney General Kwame Raoul agreed with Pritzker that the ruling would make it more difficult to protect students and school employees from the virus, and said he would appeal. A few days later, however, District 12 in Breese a pre-K through 8th grade district announced it was going mask-optional for the upcoming school year. "This shows yet again that the mask mandate and school exclusion protocols are essential tools to keep schools open and everyone safe. In part, the law says it has general supervision of the interests of the health, and lives of the people of the state. The judge argued those state offices would all be affected by the outcome of the case. Derik Holtmann dholtmann@bnd.com. Neither Pritzkers office, nor the ISBE, immediately returned messages seeking comment. "They're hollow policies and without any lawful rule and some mechanism, you can't do anything with them. "This decision sends the message that all students do not have the same right to safely access schools and classrooms in Illinois, particularly if they have disabilities or other health concerns. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Gov. JB Pritzker said the governor was "disappointed" with the decision and saidheplanned to appeal. Heres the full list from Central Illinois: Amended Complaint Macoupin Co. by Neil Street on Scribd. "My opinion, I think they should still be wearing the masks," Rojek said. "What that says right thereis what I've been saying for months, that (Pritzker's) executive orders are just fearmongering," DeVore said. Since the TRO was issued, most local and area school districts, including Springfield District 186, Ball-Chatham and Rochester, have "encouraged" or recommended wearing of masks. Hinsdale District 181 schools also declare an emergency due to the mask ruling and will be going remote Monday, officials said. In St. Charles, district officials have also decided to cancel classes and use an emergency day Monday. Rockridge School District released a statement, saying they are reviewing the judge's decision and will provide an update "as soon as possible.". That happened in Bond County. The complaint, filed in local district court, alleges Pritzker overstepped his authority in signing an executive order last week mandating masks in all preschools, elementary and secondary schools in Illinois. The American Cancer Society said Wednesday that about 20% of new colorectal cancer diagnoses were in patients under 55 in 2019, compared with 11% in 1995. Pritzker. But on July 27, the CDC reversed its guidance, recommending masking in schools, even for for fully vaccinated people, as the Delta variant rises and new studies were published about the possibility of rare breakthrough infections due to the strain's mutation. Beginning on September 19, 2021, those who are unable or unwilling to be vaccinated will be required to get tested for COVID-19 at least once per week until they can prove that they are fully vaccinated. Dozens of students showed up at Naperville schools Monday maskless. A downstate Illinois judge issued a ruling declaring Gov. All Rights Reserved. Rockton School District says it's still subject to the Governor's mask mandate. DeVore was in the process of writing a temporary restraining order in the latest lawsuit Thursday afternoon. In the metro-east, Red Bud CUSD 132 in. A spokeswoman for Gov. That, Craven said, would essentially be asking the Supreme Court to tell the appellate court to decide the case and would be on a faster track. According to District 86, about 55 of students at Hinsdale Central refused to wear a mask Monday; they were given the choice ot go to the auditorium or back home. Though the statewide mask mandate . By. But the state's top court . Yahoo fa parte della famiglia di brand di Yahoo. In granting them a temporary restraining order, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene DeWitte Grischow said the mandates violate the plaintiffs' "due process rights under the law which provide them a meaningful opportunity to object to any such mitigations.". A Michigan judge on Friday dismissed a school district and its employees as defendants in two wrongful death lawsuits stemming from a deadly 2021 mass shooting by a 15-year-old student armed with a gun his parents had bought him for Christmas. The case was filed in Macoupin County by attorney Thomas DeVore seeks declaratory judgment and injunctions against the schools, saying its unlawful to exclude students from school for allegedly being in close contact with a COVID-19 case without the consent of the parent or a court order that includes due process. Others think it is time to lift the mandate. It was later moved to Grischow's courtroom in Sangamon County. Illinois school districts will be deciding whether or not to make masks optional after a judge ruled against the state's mandate. "We recognize the challenges this decision may have on our families, but given the fluidity of the situation we strongly feel that this time is necessary to effectively plan for any potential impact on our students, staff, and school community," said Dr. Kent Mutchler, superintendent. The Illinois Association of School Administrators on Friday said about 700 districts it has reached so far have a mask optional policy or will transition to one soon. The three-judge panel wrotethat the expiration of the emergency rules renderedtheappeal "moot.". It prohibited schools from requiring the plaintiffs kids to wear a mask unless there was consent or a court order. "I have a daughter that is a little speech delayed. Illinois schools were scrambling to react after a ruling by a downstate judge Friday placed a temporary restraining order on Gov. The judge filed a temporary restraining order against Bond CountyCommunity UnitSchool DistrictNo. The rules stemmed from a Sep. 17 executive orderfromPritzker outlining the now-voided requirements. At least ten of the districts are in WCIA 3s viewing area in Central Illinois. Elgin Area School District U46 is standing by its requirement, explaining its Board of Education approved a resolution in August of last year supporting that the district follows recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as local health agencies. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 2023 www.sj-r.com. "In terms of the feedback we got, it was one of the best weeks of school we had in a long time. All rights reserved, A downstate Illinois judge issued a ruling declaring Gov. Prolific anti-COVID mitigation attorney Tom DeVore on Monday filed suit over Gov. Soon after the Pritzker administration adopted the suggestions, school boards across the state took the CDC's advice and applied it in many different ways; some mandating masks regardless of vaccination status, some requiring masks only for certain grades and some eschewing masks altogether. We believe we can achieve this," said Matt Davidson, superintendent for Timothy Christian Schools. As we have from the beginning of the pandemic, the administration will keep working to ensure every Illinoisan has the tools needed to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. The State has completed over 2 million COVID-19 tests in schools through the SHIELD program and sent more than a million rapid tests into schools outside of the City of Chicago. CHICAGO (WLS) -- A downstate attorney is asking for a temporary restraining order against Chicago Public Schools over their continued requirement for face masks. Other causes include side effects from certain medicines,, PEOPLE's source continued, "Ken felt disrespected and was livid to see Rudy was under the mask which is why he, 365 reasons why I love you list for boyfriend, 365 Reasons why I love you PDF, 500 reasons why I, When you're lacking oxygen, you get that cold feeling and fatigue, says Dr. Morgan. In part, the order said the students named in the case cant be excluded from in-person learning without consent or a quarantine order from the health department. Same goes for certain school staff who don't want to take weekly COVID-19 tests for not being vaccinated. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status.Pritzker said the mandate would protect unvaccinated children and adults, as well as the elderly and others with reduced immune systems who are more likely to develop breakthrough infections of COVID-19 even after they get vaccinations.Arrested:Rochester pastor accused of grooming minor, is suspended, Illinois school mask mandate lawsuit: What you need to know, Illinois school mask mandate lawsuit: What you need to know about a judges ruling that upended school COVID-19 rulesChicago-area school districts are relaxing their COVID-19 policies or revealing they plan to stay the course in the wake of an Illinois judges decision to temporarily prevent Gov. A Sangamon County judge issued the order after 145 school districts, including Rockridge, were named in a lawsuit in October 2021. The ruling comes in light of a legislative committee Tuesdaynot renewing the mask mandate requested by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The outcome of the lawsuit will impact school districts across the state, including in Central Illinois. Don Craven, a Springfield attorney and president of the Illinois Press Association, said he understood why the appellate court reached its decision. Attorney General Raoul officially filed an appeal Monday morning. -Hinsdale/Clarendon Hills School District 181- Open Tuesday. While some districts continue to isolate students from class for not wearing masks, other schools across the state went mask optional this last week. NBC 5 talked to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, about the state of COVID-19 in Illinois. Unlike most of the suits filed by DeVore and others in the last 18 months, Mondays lawsuit does not challenge Pritzkers ability to issue continuous disaster declarations beyond the 30-day period provided for in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, or IEMAA. A temporary restraining order issued Friday by Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow has reduced schools' ability to require masks and vaccinations. Hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, and staff across Illinois are doing their best to remain healthy and keep schools open. All rights reserved. Rochester Superintendent Dan Cox said he communicated with parents and guardians after the TRO was announced. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education last year, arguing there was no due process in Illinois statewide mask order. -Schaumburg District 54: Masks not require, - St. Charles CUSD 303: Masks suggested but not required, -Orland School District 135: Masks not required, -Wheaton School District 200: Masks recommended but not required, -Plainfield District 202: Masks recommended but not required, -Lisle District 202- Continuing mask mandate, will make final decision after survey of parents, -Algonquin District 300- Open Tuesday, continuing mask mandate, The Archdiocese of Chicago sent a letter to parents and students Saturday that said they are "closely monitoring the case.".