masks

Parents, students, await ruling on mask mandate lawsuit

Published by admin on Tue, 01/25/2022 - 5:35pm

A lawsuit filed by parents across the state to try to overturn the statewide school mask mandate may get a ruling by the end of the week.

Districts Wilmington 209-U and Elwood 203 are among 145 school districts named in a lawsuit filed in October to end the mandate put in place this school year by Gov. JB Pritzker.

The lawsuit was filed on Oct. 20, 2021 in Macoupin County by attorney Thomas DeVore on behalf of dozens of parents across the state. The case is being heard in Sangamon County Circuit Court.

Masks no longer optional for back to school at Wilmington 209-U

Published by admin on Tue, 08/10/2021 - 5:01pm

When the Wilmington School District 209-U Board of Education met on Monday night, around 25 members of the community were there, ready to speak up and speak out on the mask mandate for the upcoming school year.

But ultimately, the message the district delivered was that students will be starting the year just as they did last year—in person and wearing face coverings.

Masks are mandated at the local level in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 09/01/2020 - 12:32pm

The issue of wearing masks may have caused some confusion for folks around Wilmington, with various state and local rules now in place causing some to ask what exactly the local mandates are.

On Aug. 18, the Wilmington City Council, in a 5-1 vote with two members absent, passed an ordinance mandating face coverings throughout the city.

The ordinance requires "all persons within the municipal boundary of the City of Wilmington engaging in any activity outside of their residence while other people are present shall wear protective face coverings."

Back to school? Masks required in Wilmington and across the state

Published by admin on Tue, 07/14/2020 - 4:47pm

Face coverings will become the new normal when students return to the classroom in Illinois public schools this fall.

The Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) transition guide for the return to in-person learning includes a mandate for the appropriate use of personal protective equipment, which includes face coverings.

On July 7, the members of the Wilmington 209-U Board of Education approved two polices for the upcoming school year, one to require face coverings for staff, and a second to make the same requirement for all students.