Archived COVID FAQs

Currently, masks are optional in District 69 schools in alignment with the Board of Education approved District 69 COVID Response Plan and the Skokie Health Department’s mask recommendation. The Board of Education endorsed a plan to move to a mask-optional environment on March 8th and authorized the administration to revise the District 69 COVID Response Plan accordingly.  
 

District 69 is not a party to the Sangamon proceedings, and the impact of this decision on non-named districts is still under review.  In the meantime, District 69 will continue their current mitigation measures including the mask requirement for all students, staff and visitors as this aligns with the existing Skokie Health Department order.  This article from NBC 5 provides a summary of the court case.

Recently JCAR (Joint Committee of Administrative Rules) decided not to continue the Illinois Department of Public Health’s emergency rules regarding certain COVID-19 mitigation measures. JCAR is the legislative rule-making body for the state of Illinois.  This has caused a lot of confusion for school districts across Illinois. District 69 will continue our universal mask-wearing protocol and other mitigation strategies as we await further legal analysis and public health guidance based on this ruling.

The 4th District Appellate Court ruling states that because the legislative rules committee (JCAR) denied the IDPH emergency rules school districts now have the independent authority to create and implement their own covid response provisions. On Tuesday, February 15, the D69 Board of Education endorsed the District’s plan to move to a mask-optional environment no earlier than March 8 and for the administration in consultation with the public health department to begin revising the COVID Response Plan to reflect a mask-optional environment.  This means that the existing District 69 COVID Response Plan will remain in effect until at least March 8 which includes required masking in all District 69 buildings.
 

While much of the attention has been focused on masking, the court cases and legislative decisions have broader implications on mitigation measures like physical distancing, contact tracing, or exclusion from schools. These decisions need to be reviewed within the context of our overall COVID response system and with the expertise of public health officials.  When moving to a mask-optional environment, we need to be sure that we have all the appropriate other mitigation layers in place.  Throughout the pandemic, the COVID Response Team has modified and adjusted the District’s response plan to align with the changing guidance from Skokie Health Department, IDPH and ISBE, and we will continue to do so.   

The District recognizes that the guidance has been evolving very quickly over the past few weeks and it can be difficult to keep up. The district works with a number of regulatory agencies when implementing, changing, or adjusting protocols. These agencies include: 

• The governor's office
• Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
• Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
• Skokie Public Health Department 

The district is committed to communicating any changes in guidance with families in a timely and concise manner. Additionally, this FAQ page will be updated as the guidance is issued and as the district rolls out protocols for a shift to mask-optional. As always, families can reach out to our COVID-19 response team with questions by emailing healthinfo@skokie69.net. 

The District’s timeline is fluid and subject to change; however, the District is planning to transition to mask-optional on March 8th. Additionally, our timeline allows for anticipated new public health guidance to be released and for the District’s COVID response team to align District 69 protocols to that guidance and prepare staff for implementation.  
 

As we have learned since the start of the Pandemic, our students need time to adjust and for schools to be a predictable place for learning.  We have seen the effects that sudden changes can have on our children, and we want to protect them from the confusion we all are experiencing as adults.  Additionally, planning out a timeline allows us to ensure we have all of the information, tools, and resources in place to transition to a mask-optional environment, and that we prepare our students for that environment.   

Mask-optional allows all families and staff to flexibly choose when to mask while at school. This option allows anyone to make choices that align with public health guidance and feels most comfortable to them. The district highly recommends all parents/caregivers have a conversation with their child about their family’s decision to mask or not mask, as this should be an adult-driven and informed decision. 
 

Yes. The District continues to follow the public health guidance which says that masks are optional for PreK. 

Yes, per guidance, buses will be mask-optional. 

A mask-optional environment will be implemented for all students and staff. Staff will have the ability to choose whether they want to wear a mask or not. Each person’s situation is different and the district will provide the option to choose for all. 
 

Developmentally, we know that children, especially our youngest learners, will need appropriate reassurances that they will be following school rules, no matter if they are masked or unmasked once the shift occurs; that they will remain safe in their classrooms; and that it will be okay for other students to make a different choice than theirs.  Additionally, our staff will use age-appropriate talking points to reiterate physical and emotional safety, honesty and clarity regarding expectations, and respect and empathy for others’ choices.

We encourage you to talk with your children as you determine the best decision(s) for your family in advance of the implementation date. Please discuss with your child the importance of being inclusive and accepting of differing opinions around mask wearing.

Additionally, the District has compiled resources to support families in talking to their children about the masking changes at school. Click here to access.
 

D69 will continue weekly testing until there is a change in public health guidance and/or the State no longer funds the program.  Additionally, IDPH/ISBE have not released any changes related to physical distancing in schools.  Therefore, we will continue with our current physical distancing.  When changes are released, the COVID team will review them and communicate any changes.  

The District Full Time In-Person Plan can be found here by clicking the link below. 

Full-Time In-Person Plan