Area school districts are taking different actions following a Friday temporary restraining order by a judge that the Governor exceeded his authority in mandating the wearing of masks in schools.
Four area school districts that were named in the lawsuit have decided to make masks optional for all students and not just the parents who joined the lawsuit.
Odin School Superintendent Kimberly Briggs says they will support families in their decision regarding the wearing of face covers for their children. She notes under the new policy, some students have taken off the masks but many are still wearing them.
South Central Superintendent Kerry Herdes in a note to parents says while the district encourages the use of masks and COVID-19 testing it will not exclude students or staff who choose not to wear a mask. He says the school attorney gave them a choice of allowing the temporary restraining order to just cover the two South Central students involved or leave it cover the entire student body. Herdes said he felt it would be unfair to only follow the judge’s ruling for the two students. He adds as of Monday the district has no COVID-19 positive cases among students or staff.
Carlyle School Superintendent Annie Gray says they are also following the temporary restraining order for all students and staff, but the Carlyle School Board plans a special board meeting on Wednesday to review the court order and consider taking action on an updated COVID-19 plan.
The Patoka School District had earlier voted to do away with all COVID-19 mitigations, including masking, and will not see any changes with the court order.
The temporary restraining order also bars quarantine or isolation for close contacts with no symptoms and weekly testing for unvaccinated staff.
Salem Community High School Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering says the mask mandate is still in effect Monday and Tuesday as the district updates its metrics on the number of students out with COVID or as a result of being a close contact. He reports once that information is gathered, they will follow their local plan adopted in August on whether masks will be mandated.
Centralia City Grade School Superintendant Craig Clark says they will follow the mask mandate until a final decision is made on the Governor’s appeal of the decision to the Appellate Court that is expected to be made by February 17th. He says their goal is to remain consistent until a concrete ruling is in place.
Other school district’s not part of the temporary restraining order have more quietly decided to leave the mask mandate in place, but not to enforce it.
This story will be updated as other superintendents weigh in on the issue.
