* Background is here if you need it. From the attorney for Timothy Christian Schools to the Illinois State Board of Education…
August 11, 2021
Via Electronic Mail
Mr. Derreck Langwith
Illinois State Board of Education
100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 14-300 Chicago, IL 60601
RE: Nonpublic Recognition Status of Timothy Christian Schools
Good evening, Mr. Langwith:
Our client, Timothy Christian Schools, is in receipt of a letter from Dr. Ayala notifying the school that ISBE is removing its status as a recognized nonpublic school, effective immediately, based on ISBE’s perception that the school will not comply with the universal masking requirement in Executive Order 2021-18.
First, Timothy Christian Schools never communicated its intent to be non-compliant with the Order; and second, neither staff nor students have returned to school for SY21-22, as classes do not begin until August 25th. This was communicated in written and video messages to the Timothy community, and was explicitly told to Dr. Ayala when she called Superintendent Matt Davidson late this afternoon.
Nevertheless, in order to be crystal clear, on behalf of Timothy Christian Schools, we are writing to inform you that Timothy has no intention of defying the Executive Order; Timothy will observe the Order effective immediately, even though school is not in session for two weeks. We trust this statement will be sufficient to reinstate the school’s recognition status, effective immediately, and without blemish to the school’s record.
With this behind us, I would welcome the opportunity to have an amicable conversation about the rules under which the school’s recognition was “immediately” revoked, in order to clear up any misunderstanding of the State’s authority. Regardless of our understanding, please know that Timothy will fully comply with the Executive Order.
We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Vanessa V. Clohessy
* From Timothy Christian Schools Superintendent Matt Davidson to parents…
Team Timothy:
The support for our school is overwhelming. Thank you! Our mission here at Timothy is all about the kids and always has been about the kids. Therefore, we are working with ISBE on the restoration of our recognition status and have informed them that Timothy intends to comply with the Executive Order. We expect to hear from them shortly, so stay tuned. We are hopeful. Please continue to pray.
Our professional conviction is that we cannot allow such significant consequences as outlined by ISBE to adversely impact our children. Many of our high school students are looking forward to IHSA athletics and other activities; many are counting on college scholarships and opportunities; many of our families are receiving much-needed scholarship money from the Invest in Kids Act; and as a PreK-12 school, it particularly doesn’t feel right to have our children used as leverage.
As a reminder, we never stated that we would not comply with the universal mask requirement in the Executive Order to begin the school year. We simply made a schoolwide commitment to you that we would use the time before school starts to investigate this further, and I also made a clear personal pledge that I would not support outright defiance if we hit a dead end. If you haven’t watched the video, yet, I encourage you to do so. We did exactly what we said we were going to do — nothing more, and nothing less. This has never been a political matter for us. As I clearly stated in the video. This was never a fight, but rather an exploration.
Based on the current situation, we’ve determined that we will follow the Executive Order. Additional details on face coverings can be found here (see pp. 10-13). Note: face coverings are not required outdoors, so let’s plan to see each other’s faces outside.
Some will interpret this as wise…some will interpret this as cowardly…but I believe most here in the Timothy community will at least nod their head and understand the situation. This community is strong. Your support goes a long way in bringing calm for our kids. Hang in there!
More information will be coming soon. In the meantime, our entire staff is enthusiastically preparing for the start of school and welcoming your children! Let’s make this the best year in our school’s history.
Press on, Timothy.
Matt Davidson
- SubRosa - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:26 am:
Good result, Timothy Christian Schools prevarications notwithstanding.
- Nuke the Whales - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:27 am:
What gaslighting garbage.
- Shield - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:28 am:
== based on ISBE’s perception that the school will not comply with the universal masking requirement in Executive Order 2021-18.==
The superintendent explicitly said “mask optional” in his video.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:29 am:
===Therefore, we are working with ISBE on the restoration of our recognition status and have informed them that Timothy intends to comply with the Executive Order.===
Guess we won’t need to see about that “regional recognition” thingy.
Guess being called out by the state, the possibility of losing money and athletics… makes one think on doing the right thing to save lives.
This is comically “saving face”… even if the face you’re saving will only be seen outside;
===Based on the current situation, we’ve determined that we will follow the Executive Order. Additional details on face coverings can be found here (see pp. 10-13). Note: face coverings are not required outdoors, so let’s plan to see each other’s faces outside.===
Oh. They determined they will follow.
That sure showed the state and all of us.
What a waste of time to convince people masks save lives.
So, am I to congratulate because… so I get this right… “we’ve determined that we will follow the Executive Order.”
If we have to pretend they made a choice…
- NeedRemoteOptionStill - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:29 am:
“First, Timothy Christian Schools never communicated its intent to be non-compliant with the Order”
“In a publicly disseminated video you also stated that your school will not comply with the requirements in the Order”
What was the point of the video then ?
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:30 am:
“Please continue to pray.”
I would hope there are better things they can be spending their prayers on besides fighting state educational standards.
I hope ISBE has someone that can drop by the school for a surprise visit or two to make sure they’re actually following it.
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:35 am:
In other words, State Board handed our butts to us in a basket and we will now comply since we really didn’t mean what we said because we are blow hard cowards who just got our bluffs called.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:38 am:
OW, this is not about saving face, but about saving his butt. It’s too late for him to even comically save face.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:41 am:
Timothy Christian
Oh the time has come
And you knew that you’re the only one
To say “no way”
Where you going
What you looking for
You know ISBE
Don’t want to play no more with you
It’s true
You’re back peddling
That’s your price for “rights”
In finding you’re not right
You’ll be alright sit tight
Timothy Christian
There’s so much in life
Don’t you give it up
Before your time is due
It’s true
It’s true yeah
Back peddling
That’s your price for “rights”
You’ve finally seen the light
It just took the overnight
- Jocko - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:43 am:
That’s a lot of words to say “We blinked.”
- Montrose - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:44 am:
Yes, the school did leave the door open in the video to eventually deciding to comply with the order. The problem with that was acting as though they had a choice in the matter. ISBE just made it abundantly clear that the mask mandate is not being done with a wink and a nudge.
- Commissar Gritty - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:44 am:
Laughed out loud at
“With this behind us, I would welcome the opportunity to have an amicable conversation about the rules under which the school’s recognition was “immediately” revoked, in order to clear up any misunderstanding of the State’s authority.”
There is no misunderstanding of the state’s authority. You got smacked down by it because you are yet another conservative entity trying to score political points by pretending the pandemic is harmless, to the detriment of your students. Then you jumped ship as soon as reality burst the disinformation bubble. Authority seems crystal clear to me.
- Club J - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:46 am:
Well that was a quick turn around and understanding of the mask mandate. Seems the group AWAKE ILLINOIS thinks they have the upper hand on the schools and ISBE. I’ll never understand why parents will put their children in harms way over wearing a simple mask.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:48 am:
“Matt Davidson”
He could hit a homerun every once and a while. But he mostly strikes out. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davidma02.shtml
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:49 am:
I would imagine the parents that just assumed this guy was going to make the smart decision suddenly found need to contact the school regarding the pasta salad of a statement he made while politely explaining he wasn’t following a legal mandate that would keep students safe for what could only be stupid reasons.
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:49 am:
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” is the ninth commandment, Matt Davidson.
From the letter: “…and as a PreK-12 school, it particularly doesn’t feel right to have our children used as leverage.”
Leverage???
As if ISBE is trying to get something from the mask mandate other than protecting the health and safety of Illinois children.
- Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 11:56 am:
Backpedaling and tap dancing by the Timothy community.
Tuition support is needed for some students. Can’t risk losing that funding.
- Jibba - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:00 pm:
“Please continue to pray.”
Prayers not needed, only masks.
“..in order to clear up any misunderstanding of the State’s authority…”
I think the State is clear about their authority. Any misunderstanding is on your part.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:00 pm:
I wonder what the vaccination rate of their students is for the regular vaccinations mandated by the state.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:06 pm:
Guess that loss of ISBE recognition carried more weight than some prior commenters opined.
First rule of a gun fight-If you pull it, you’d better be ready to use it.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:08 pm:
“This was never a fight, but rather an exploration.”
Just asking questions, sillies! Sorry you got so triggered!!
They think this bad faith routine is cute, and that other people are too stupid to see it for what it is.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:13 pm:
Nothing like the possible loss of money to find out if one will walk it like they talk it.
- Jibba - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:16 pm:
“…to have an amicable conversation about the rules under which the school’s recognition was “immediately” revoked…”
In other words, tell us exactly where the line is so that we can put a toe right on it without any consequences. But it’s not political, amirite?
- Highland, IL - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:18 pm:
No Tom DeVore to the rescue?
- Mamacita - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:20 pm:
I remember how school administrators loved having a kid to make an example of, so I experienced more than a little schadenfreude at the state superintendent coming down on Timothy yesterday.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:20 pm:
===No Tom DeVore to the rescue?===
Tom DeVore… I’ll lose, but I’ll do it gracefully.
They already had one attorney write a letter of phony thoughts to a video, why pay DeVore to lose… gracefully?
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:24 pm:
And yet with Delta rampant ISBE refuses to reverse their stance against schools that may still think it best to offer all-remote learning against this year, at least give them the option. At least until Delta subsides or if young kids can get vaccinated.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:32 pm:
What’s a matter, is being a Facebook hero not so fun when it spills over into real life? Everyone’s a tough guy online.
- TheAardvark - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:55 pm:
Our local K-8 district had a board meeting last night and on the agenda was a vote to determine if the district would follow/enforce the mask mandate. With a 4-3 vote, the motion was passed to follow/enforce the mandate.
I am ashamed and horrified that not only was there a vote to begin with, but it only passed by the narrowest of margins. Even then, I expect that the combination of the state superintendent’s email and the ISBE’s response to the Timothy school’s lack of compliance is the only thing that allowed it to pass.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:56 pm:
=Guess that loss of ISBE recognition carried more weight than some prior commenters opined.
First rule of a gun fight-If you pull it, you’d better be ready to use it.=
Yes and Yes. In fact, Amen.
I love seeing these arrogant windbags tuck tail. they make my job harder for no good reason but to stroke their ego and feel self important.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
I’d love to hear what Jacobson and her ilk have to say now.
- Timothy School Bulletin - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 1:30 pm:
Good morning students.
Welcome back.
Just a reminder, Superintendent Matt Davidson will be serving waffles all week in the cafeteria.
Get ‘em while they last, and be sure to thank Mr. Davidson for the waffles.
Press on, Timothy
- H-W - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 2:03 pm:
Now that a private school has been schooled, any word on the public schools that are refusing to make masks mandatory? (E.g., Unity and Warsaw school districts in West Central Illinois).
- Suburban Mom - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 2:32 pm:
Love how right-wing evangelicals are so unused to consequences that they literally cannot believe that their clear public statements about their intent to defy the law were taken seriously, and acted upon.
- Bern - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 2:39 pm:
Great, now do Jasper County next so they start protecting their students and community.
- VerySmallRocks - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 2:43 pm:
Being religious doesn’t mean being medieval.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 3:29 pm:
“Matt Davidson”
He could hit a homerun every once and a while. But he mostly strikes out.
I thought that was Dave Kingman.
- OneMan - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 3:33 pm:
Did someone send Amy a thank you card?
- truthteller - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 3:40 pm:
countless downstate schools will try to turn a blind eye from Durand to Shelbyville where they already said so in one way or another. Now its put up or shut up time. Our state people have to squash them
- JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 3:52 pm:
=countless downstate schools will try to turn a blind eye from Durand=
Ummm…Durand is less than 10 miles from the Wisconsin border. Rural Illinois ius a better description, otherwise I agree with you.
- Edwardsville Guy - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 6:37 pm:
Red Bud in Randolph County announced this week that they would not require their students to wear masks.
https://countyjournal.org/august122021.pdf
- Original Anon - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 9:35 pm:
Is Timothy right that (a) school had not started and (b) the video referenced only said the school was exploring options with the “goal” of keeping masks optional? If so, ISBE has no legal authority to revoke recognition. I mean its a nice saber-rattle, but punishing a school for non-compliance with a rule usually requires actual non-compliance.
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 10:20 pm:
THIS is NOT the 2020 virus and requies strigent strategies–https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2021/08/10/what-we-now-know-about-how-to-fight-the-delta-variant-of-covid-column