ISBE Hears From Parents and Officials

Photo credit: KHQA, ABC Quincy

The State Board of Education heard from officials and parents about the school mask mandate at its monthly meeting on Wednesday.

Several people asked the board to leave it up to school districts to decide mask rules and expressing concerns about students wearing masks all day, especially those with allergies.  School officials said they’re worried about teachers and staff enforcing the mandate and dealing with angry parents.

Prior to the comments, State School Superintendent Carmen Ayala said the mask mandate policy was not up for discussion at the meeting and then spoke on the importance of everyone wearing masks at school.

“We are seeing pediatric ICUs at capacity.  We are seeing hospitals having to turn away cancer patients and heart attack victims because they have no beds available  On Saturday an 8th-grade girl in Mississippi died due to complications with Covid.”

The state board did not respond to any of the testimony. The mandate requires all students and staff to wear a mask indoors, regardless of whether or not they’ve been vaccinated. Some area schools have been placed on probation by ISBE for not requiring masks.