FAQ - Masks Recommended, Not Required
Masks will be recommended, but not required for students and staff in PKP and Early Childhood.
No. Based on the latest guidance from the CDC and ISBE, masks will not be required on school transportation beginning March 17, 2022.
For a COVID positive individual, that individual must stay home through day 5. The individual may continue to stay home through day 10, or they may return to school on days 6-10, and it is strongly recommended that they mask throughout the school day.
No. Schools will not segregate or seat students based on mask use or vaccination status.
As of March 17, 2022, District 97 teachers/staff will not monitor or enforce the mask status of students.
The district maintains local control to make decisions that are best for the school community. It is possible that masks could be required indoors again if a new state or local mandate is put back into place, or if local conditions warrant it (e.g., transmission rates rise to “high,” per current guidelines). We will continue to seek guidance from the CDC, IDPH and the Oak Park Department of Public Health to determine appropriate mitigations for our schools.
As we move towards this transition, our emphasis is on the social-emotional needs of our students and supporting each other as a community. Our school staff will support classroom communities that encourage inclusiveness, belonging, and care. District 97 Climate and Culture Coaches, in collaboration with our school-based PBIS/Culture and Climate teams, have designed resources to support classroom conversations. They have also prepared resources for families to support the conversations that will happen at home to support students with this transition.
Regardless of a family’s decision about mask wearing, preparing your child for this change in their learning environment may put them at ease.
- Communicate Kindness: You can help your child understand that the pandemic has caused many unknowns, and everyone is working to do what is best for their families. Being different is ok and respecting difference is an important part of our community. Another family’s decision may not be the same as their own and that is ok.
- Clear Expectations: As we get closer to March 17, depending on the developmental age and stage of your child, explain why your family has decided that wearing or not wearing a mask at school is best for them. Set clear expectations for your child’s behavior at school. Reinforce the need to respect differences. You may want to discuss with your child what respect looks like/sounds like.
- Model and Practice Skills: If your child feels self-conscious about wearing or not wearing a mask, help them to put words to their feelings. You can develop a script with them and practice with them how to respond directly. For example, “I feel better wearing/not wearing a mask at school; what should we play at recess?”
- Encourage Your Child to Speak Up: Remind your child that it is important to speak to an adult at school if they notice a student being mistreated or if they have been mistreated. Promoting a culture of mutual respect should include feeling safe to speak up. Help your child to identify a trusted adult(s) at school that they can go to.
Source: Glenview School District 34
The updated guidance from the state was issued late in the evening Feb. 25, providing little time to prepare our staff, students and families for what will ultimately be a significant change to our learning environment. While some members of our community are excited and ready to make this transition, there are others who are understandably feeling anxiety and stress. Waiting until March 17 provides time for staff to develop and communicate supports for our students, address accommodations for students who are immunocompromised, and work through updated guidance from the state.
This plan was supported by the District 97 Board of Education, which held an emergency meeting Feb. 27 to discuss updated guidance from the state. The district’s legal counsel has also advised that school districts still have discretion to require universal masking for students and staff.
Yes. All of our existing mitigation protocols will remain in place until further notice. We will continue to review our safety measures and provide regular updates to our community regarding potential changes. Below is a summary of our current mitigations. CLICK HERE for a summary of our current mitigations.