NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Thursday is the first day of school for the more than 16,000 students who attend Naperville District 203 schools. At the same time, their teachers are threatening a walkout as contract negotiations continue.
Naperville District 203's 1,500 teachers have not yet set a strike date. Their union, the Naperville Unit Education Association, said there was some progress at the latest contract talks this week, but no significant movement. Sticking points include pay and parental leave after the birth of a child.
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Meanwhile, Supt. Dan Bridges said at this week’s board meeting that Governor Pritzker’s mask mandate will be enforced, to avoid the “extraordinary legal liability."
According to the statewide mask mandate for schools, districts that don’t enforce the policy will lose school recognition by the Illinois State Board of Education, Bridges said.
“If we lose our recognition status, the following will happen: diplomas and graduates will not be recognized by the state,” he said. “Students will no longer be eligible for certain scholarships. And all (Illinois High School Association) athletics and activities will not be recognized and our students will be ineligible for competition.”
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Shannon Adcock, of Awake Illinois, argued during the comment session that it should not.
"Governor Pritzker is not the emperor. Every region and local school board has an opportunity to harness the ultimate science that of law. Refuse enforcement of this mask mandate," she said.
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Others spoke out in support of masking.
"I am no longer interested in meeting people where they are when they assert they will send their children to school maskless or march them to the first day of school blowing bubbles. In the midst of an airborne pandemic, these are threats of assault," said parent Lynn Goslin.
Supt. Bridges said teachers and staff will work with students, but that ultimately students who refuse to wear masks properly could be sent home.
"We are committed to bringing all our students back to a full day instruction for five days per week while providing a safe environment so that students can stay in school," Supt. Bridges said.
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