CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- We’re in mid-summer and school districts are planning for the new school year, including trying to figure out what kinds of COVID-prevention protocols to have in place, like whether to mask or not.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced updated guidance last week suggesting that unvaccinated children and teachers wear masks in schools, and those who are vaccinated can go without. But, there are a number of school district leaders and parents in Illinois who are calling for mask-wearing to be optional.
On Monday night, the St. Charles District 303 school board got an earful from parents who do not want their unvaccinated children to be forced to wear masks.
"It is your job to fulfill their educational needs. It is our job as parents to keep our children healthy. If you want to start paying my kids' medical bills, then I will take your opinion about their health into account. Until then, take a seat and fix this failed school system," said parent Lisa Raphael.
Another parent suggested unvaccinated middle schoolers and high schoolers forced to wear masks could be subjected to ridicule from fellow vaccinated, non-mask-wearing students.
"This is segregation. This is discrimination against kids. And to put these kids against each other in front of themselves. Peers are tough on each other, middle schooler and high schooler, especially," said Parent Theresa Melton.
One District 303 parent has gathered more than 1,500 online petition signatures pushing a “mask optional” approach.
Additionally, the new superintendent of Lake Forest Districts 67 and 115, Dr. Matthew Montgomery, urged Governor Pritzker in a letter to let mask wearing in schools be a local decision.
“As a fellow leader, I understand and respect the pressure and competing interests you are facing. Yet, we both know there is no one-size-fits-all solution for this pandemic," he wrote.
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