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Just eight schools on probation over mask policy violations

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Illinois

The Illinois State Board of Education could put more school districts across the state on probation just as the agency has put eight schools on notice for failure to comply with the state’s COVID-19 policies. […]

On Friday, ISBE listed eight schools on probation.

Seven were private schools: St. Johns Lutheran Parochial School in Coles County, St. James Lutheran schools in Adams County, Vandalia Christian Academy in Fayette County, Christian Liberty Academy and Valeo Academy in Cook County, Kankakee Trinity Academy in Kankakee County, and Visionway Christian School in Christian County.

Hutsonville Community Unit School District 1 in Crawford County is the only public school on probation.

“Due to the district’s continued failure to demonstrate compliance with the universal indoor masking requirements, the State Superintendent has determined that the recognition status of your district is hereby changed to On Probation, effective immediately,” said a letter ISBE sent to Hutsonville on Friday.

Hutsonville School Board President Chad Weaver told Illinois Radio Network they’ve had their mask-recommended policy in place all school year with few students wearing masks. He said COVID-19 cases have been on par with other districts. […]

In their letter to Hutsonville, ISBE said they can either appeal or submit a plan for corrective action by Nov. 30.

Weaver said the district requires masks on school buses, capturing federal dollars tied to such policies. And, they’re ready to make masks mandated if local conditions call for it. But, state dollars could be at stake for not complying with ISBE’s mandate.

“Basically the new set of rules that ISBE put out is at least a kangaroo court version of due process,” Weaver said.

Legal bills have been minimal, Weaver said, but some in the public have offered to cover the costs to keep masks optional.

Weaver said the quiet part out loud when he mentioned the school bus mask mandate connected to federal dollars. The district will only comply if it hits their budget. So be it.

Also, Hutsonville has been in court and in hot water almost constantly since the pandemic began.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:01 pm

Comments

=He said COVID-19 cases have been on par with other districts. […]=

Data to support this allegation would be just swell.

=“Basically the new set of rules that ISBE put out is at least a kangaroo court version of due process,” Weaver said.=

It is due process. And you were given another shot at it. Vandalia and Warsaw will follow soon. They just cannot help themselves.

As far as legal bills, maybe I will FOIA their legal bills and see how much they really are spending.

Funny how this guy thinks it is ok to not follow the rules. I wonder if they are punishing students when they violate the handbook these days. If I were a parent there, I might have an issue with that given the districts overt lawlessness.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:12 pm
Hutsonville is one of DeVores problem cases. I’m not sure if they are paying their way or if his non profit is covering his fees. He was begging for school districts to stop bowing to the tyranny and join his lawsuits. He said it’s free to the district budget.

Comment by Club J Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:13 pm
“Weaver said the district requires masks on school buses, capturing federal dollars tied to such policies.”

He said it… out loud… might be interesting to see if there are video cameras on the buses that will verify this. I find it hard to believe that everyone, adults and kids, on the bus follow the mask rule to the hilt when they know they don’t have to once they get off the bus.

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:37 pm
I wonder what Roger Eddy would have done? Pretty sure not this.

(Eddy was Supt. at Hutsonville while he was in the GA.)

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:38 pm
===Pretty sure not this===

He voted against the new rules, so I wouldn’t be so sure.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:45 pm
HS Basketball has started. No masks in crowds, Mask on athletes are under their chins. I am waiting for the IHSA stance this year.

Comment by Cermak Dr. Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:52 pm
Three other school districts are not following the mask mandate due to a TRO that was issued which has been extended until early December, at least. The difference is Hutsonville did not join the TRO lawsuit but instead a student and parent filed against the IHSA and won on appeal. ISBE has not placed the other three on probation due to the TRO, plain and simple. The refusal to comply with the mask mandate is the same in all four of these districts. Dozens of other districts were on probation and are waiting to see that the result will be regarding the TRO in the three districts now covered. Doesn’t matter what Eddy would or would not have done really, although I strongly doubt this would have been the route taken. Bottom line is that this will be settled soon likely by a court, and a court away from the original jurisdiction.

Comment by Elliott Ness Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 4:08 pm
= I am waiting for the IHSA stance this year.=

Lol, that is hilarious. They will nottake a real stand on anything.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 4:15 pm
Pick your fights. Masks make a much much smaller difference than promoting vaccines.

Comment by Blake Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 4:28 pm
=Masks make a much much smaller difference than promoting vaccines.=

Last spring several scientists were interviewed and asked if they would take universal masking or universal vaccination. They chose masks. That said, they are all part of successful mitigation practices.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 5:29 pm
=== Last spring several scientists were interviewed ===

Which scientists? Which outlet? And how long ago was that? What do we know now that wasn’t known then.

Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 6:35 pm
=Which scientists? Which outlet? And how long ago was that? What do we know now that wasn’t known then.=

It was an interview on the teevee. Maybe you log every teevee show you watch. Fauci, Dr. Murphy from N’western all recommend masking and do not minimize the value. of course, like I stated, they recommend a multi step mitigation practice.

Maybe the science in your head says something different, but real science does not.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 7:14 pm
I’m pretty sure that Christian Liberty Academy is the ones with times to State Rep. Tom Morrison’s family. It is in Arlington Heights, there is a Morrison on the school’s board and I know Morrison’s family was tied to a local (AH) religious school.

So what I’m saying is that there was pretty much a 100% chance that one would end up on the list.

Comment by Crash Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 8:16 pm
But epidemiologists also believe that relying on vaccines alone is not enough. Gupta says that even as we attempt to find a way to live with Covid-19 in the UK, there should still be some restrictions in place to limit the spread of the virus and reduce the number of opportunities it gets to mutate.

“The case numbers are so high at the moment that it’s much better to prevent new infections,” says Gupta. “In other words, we shouldn’t be wandering around in crowded places, in buildings without masks on, even though it’s hard to do.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/
021/nov/21/is-delta-the-last-covid-super-variant

Comment by very old soil Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 11:54 pm
Reinfection, breakthrough cases, decreasing immunity to vaccines…mitigations for how long?

Enough is enough. Those who have received vaccines and boosters have done enough. Plus, in two weeks, everyone will have been given the chance to pretty much eliminate their chances of an adverse event from Covid…although kids were really never at more risk from Covid than any other respiratory virus.

The live of unending mitigation is not one I will live anymore.

Comment by DuPage Moderate Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 8:35 am