Dear District 64 Community,
We are aware of today’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) decision not to extend the IDPH’s emergency rules mandating indoor masking in schools.
Given this information, and the fact that the COVID-19 rates have dropped significantly in our area, effective Wednesday, February 16, District 64 will now be a mask recommended environment for students and staff. We do highly recommend that staff and students continue to wear masks in alignment with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but masks are now optional.
Please know that masks are still required to be worn on any school-based transportation, including bus routes and taxis, due to the Federal CDC order.
We ask that you please speak with your children before coming to school Wednesday, February 16, about your family's personal choice regarding wearing a mask at school.
District 64 staff members are not responsible for monitoring your family’s mask choice throughout the day. We will also not be able to honor any special requests for seating preferences within the classroom and throughout the school.
Please have a discussion with your children about respecting the choices of others as we are anticipating some of our school community to wear a mask, while others may choose not to.
Additionally, in the coming days, we have various after-school teams that are scheduled for away events at schools outside of District 64. Please be advised that all D64 students, staff, and parents are expected to follow the expectations set forth by the hosting school district in order to attend away events. We will inform the hosting school districts that this expectation has been shared with all of our families and look forward to our students and guests complying with proper mask-wearing when required. Please plan accordingly before traveling to these events.
Finally, District 64 will continue to promote and create an environment where all of our students feel safe to abide by their choice. We hope all our students, staff, and families will join us in caring for each other as we navigate this next step for our community.
Thank you for your continued cooperation,
Dr. Eric Olson
Superintendent