Will the CDC revised mask guidance influence D158’s decision on student masking?

HUNTLEY – As of Tuesday, July 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending for some fully vaccinated individuals to wear masks indoors if they live in areas with substantial or high spread of COVID-19.

The pressure for the change in masking guidance comes after new data on outbreaks, demonstrates that on rare occasions, vaccinated people are still able to transmit the delta variant of the coronavirus.

“This was not a decision that was taken lightly…On rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with the delta variant after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others,” said the CDC’s director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky in a news briefing. “This new science is worrisome, and unfortunately, warrants an update in our recommendations.”

According to CDC data, as of Thursday July 29, McHenry County has moved from the “moderate” to the “substantial” category of positive COVID-19 transmission cases. Kane County remains at a moderate level of transmission.

On July 22, Huntley Community School District 158 (D158), held a special Board of Education (BOE) meeting in which BOE president Tony Quagliano, made a statement to the large group of attendees hoping to hear the BOE’s stance on the masking requirements for next year.

“The board and the administration will be presenting at the Committee of the Whole meeting at the first Thursday in August meeting, regarding [our] plans as it relates to masks and the operations for the start of the school year,” Quagliano said.

“The school board will be taking a vote at that time to give some clarity on where we stand. We agree that this is something that the board does need to vote on and discuss and debate in our open meeting and so that’s when [it’ll] be done. I know people had asked at the last meeting, ‘What are you waiting for?’ A lot of information. A lot of things [to] play out.”

Jill Cataldo, a meeting attendee who spoke on behalf of the online based D158 parent union group, gave a detailed explanation regarding the legalities around enforcing a universal mask mandate within the district.

“Last week, we had an online petition strictly related to [the] D158 masking policy and it received over 1,300 signatures in just 24 hours before last week’s meeting…One of our main concerns is the district’s legal right to enforce mask mandates on non-vaccinated students,” Cataldo said. “Illinois Administrative Code 23-120 outlines operational requirements for public schools. There is no language whatsoever regarding masks in this code…So, we are asking you to consider what is legal regarding masking. Schools are protected by tort immunity as long as schools are following title 23.”

Cataldo went on to state that the district should consider looking into other options for parents who want their children to continue to utilize masks.

“Our suggestion is this, to give parents the best options to protect their children based on their beliefs and their parenting styles, is to make masks optional and have the district use their COVID-19 relief funds to purchase and supply N95 grade masks for the students that request them,” she said.

“Those that are concerned about COVID and want to make sure they themselves are truly protected, N95’s are the only masks which have been conclusively proven to prevent COVID transference when properly fitted…With the introduction of optional N95 masks provided by the school [district], all parents will have the opportunity to protect their child in the way that aligns with their family’s beliefs.”

Other families in the district are not so keen on making masking optional just yet, as was the case with meeting attendee Heather Eubank, who was the only person to speak out on maintaining the mask mandate in schools.

“With a more transmissible variant of COVID-19 finding its way into communities and infection numbers on the rise, districts that have departed from the previously enforced mask policies are irresponsible. Last week, the Journal of the American Medical Association discredited, that masks can harm children. This week, delta was discovered in our community and positivity rates have gone from 0.8% to 3.7% in less than four weeks,” Eubank said.

“While children are at school, it’s the [district’s] responsibility to keep children safety in their best interest. Until every student has the opportunity to be vaccinated, which is not currently available for those under 12, masks should be mandated. To go against this recommendation puts thousands of kids and their families at risk for illness, extended complications and potentially, death.”

Quagliano ended the public comments section of the meeting by thanking everyone who had spoken, stating that it was extremely helpful when it comes to assisting the BOE in their decision-making process.

“I’ve been in business for 35 years, the best thing I ever do is wait, listen [and] learn before I make decisions, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re being a little bit methodical. There may be other districts out in front of it. That’s their choice. They choose to do that. While there’s various guidance being issued after they make those decisions, that’s not the way we want to operate,” Quagliano said.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will also be adopting the CDC’s revised masking recommendations for some vaccinated individuals until more people are vaccinated.