Dear Parents and Guardians,
This afternoon, Governor JB Pritzker, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced an Executive Order requiring P-12 school staff, students, and visitors to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Just prior to Governor Pritzker’s press conference, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released the following statement about the Executive Order:
“[It] supports safe in-person learning and requires that masks be worn indoors by all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. The CDC strengthened its guidance last week for universal indoor masking in schools, and Illinois will continue to follow the science, data, and public health experts to keep students in school and keep communities safe. We know that consistent and correct mask use is the simplest, most effective way to keep students safely in school, where they can learn and grow to their fullest potential. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and ISBE will issue updated guidance to reflect this change.”
Per the Illinois High School Association, this masking mandate applies to all IHSA fall sport practices and contests that are conducted indoors. The masking directive also applies to any winter or spring IHSA sports that may be conducting open gyms, general conditioning, or weightlifting indoors. In line with CDC guidance, masks are not required for activities outdoors where transmission risks and rates are lower. Our GMS sports will follow the same guidelines.
Our district’s return to school plan released on July 23, 2021 addressed the possibility of increasing or decreasing mitigating measures based on local metrics, new information, or mandates. As soon as the IDPH and ISBE releases further guidance, we will share it with you.
We won’t let anything diminish how excited we are to welcome back everyone for full days and full weeks beginning next Thursday. We’re all in this together, and I look forward to a great year with our students and teachers where they belong — in the classroom.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.
Dr. Adam Brumbaugh
Superintendent
Geneseo Community Unit School District #228
Led by guidance from @CDCgov, @GovPritzker has announced an order requiring K-12 school staff, students, and visitors to wear masks indoors, regardless of vax status. Masks offer the simplest, most effective way to keep students safely in school, where they can learn and grow. pic.twitter.com/12TU7K8MuW
— Illinois State Board of Education (@ISBEnews) August 4, 2021