IL School Mask Ruling 'Cultivates Chaos,' Gov. JB Pritzker Says

Jonah Meadows
Updated ·5 min read
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CHICAGO — Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the judge who voided emergency rules his administration adopted last year misread the law.

"Poor legal reasoning should not take one of our most effective tools off the table," Pritzker said.

On Friday afternoon, Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow issued a temporary restraining order in favor of parents and school staff who challenged his administration's implementation of masking, testing and quarantine requirements in schools.

On Monday, Pritzker said the "ruling is out of step with the vast majority of legal analysis in Illinois and across the nation." The governor said he has asked Attorney General Kwame Raoul to ask another judge to quickly overturn the ruling.

"We want to make sure that we're getting an appeal heard as soon as possible," Pritzker said, "so that we can rid ourselves of the fog of the, frankly, not good decision by the Sangamon County court."

Grischow's 29-page decision "cultivates chaos for parents, families, teachers and school administrators across the state," the governor said.

The ruling has left school districts to consult with their attorneys and boards to determine which, if any, of their COVID-19 policies to adjust in light of the ruling, which applies to four cases that name nearly 170 districts as defendants.

"The Illinois schools that have not been named as a defendants in the lawsuit should continue to follow the prescribed public health protocols which have proven to reduce school exclusion rates and have made it possible for our kids to continue learning safely in person," Pritzker said, reading from prepared remarks at an unrelated news conference. "The districts who have reached a shared understanding with their labor unions must continue to follow the public health requirements in those agreements, as well. "

It has not been mandates that have been the reason many Illinoisans have worn masks, Pritzker said, but rather a desire to do "what's right" for the wider community.

Pritzker said that masks were the reason that Illinois is "leading the Midwest in its pandemic response." He said the evidence proves masks keep kids safely in in-person learning.

"In the moment that we're in right now, masks are a proven tool, not a new feature of life but a tool to get us through this time," he said. "By and large, the people of Illinois have kept their masks on to keep everyone safe, and thankfully we've seen our COVID metrics go in the right direction."

The announcement comes as the Democratic governors of New Jersey and Delaware laid out timelines for the end of their states' school mask mandates. Governors in California, Connecticut and New York have indicated changes to their school masking rules may be coming within the next week. That would leave little more than a handful U.S. states with school mandates in place.

Pritzker said Illinois coronavirus metrics are headed in the right direction. He said hospitalizations would be the main factor in determining whether to lift the state's indoor mask mandate and other policies aimed at reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

When asked for further specifics, he said he was listening to the doctors about "what numbers are correct."

While he avoided any specifics about where hospitalization rates would need to be to lift mandates, Pritzker was asked about his public health director's suggestion that there would need to record fewer than 400 cases a day reported in the state before mask mandates could be lifted.

"Do you want non-scientists, non-doctors to make decisions that will affect seriously the health and lives of the people of Illinois with an epidemic that we have seen, a pandemic we have seen? The answer is 'yes,' of course, the ultimate decision is mine," Pritzker said.

"But you want me listening to the best experts that we have, and I do, and it includes the Department of Public Health, but also," he continued, "we've got some of the best epidemiologists in the world here at Illinois at private institutions, at public institutions, and I rely upon them as well, talking to them on a regular basis."

Read more: Judge Blocks School Mask Mandate, Voids COVID-19 Emergency Orders

About 150 of the 840 school districts in Illinois are named in the Austin v. Pritzker case, which was filed by parents of students in them. Many of those districts have adopted new, "mask-optional" policies starting Monday.

Administrators announced masks will still be required on buses in accordance with federal guidelines, and students involved in extracurricular activities at other schools must comply with their policies.

Lake Forest Schools Superintendent Matt Montgomery, who leads an elementary and high school district named as defendants in the suit, warned that any bullying or disrespectful behavior in response to the ruling would not be tolerated.

"There are many perspectives on this issue." Montgomery said. "Regardless of your family or personal choice about masking, I am asking everyone to lead with kindness. It is critically important that we are respectful of each other’s personal decisions."

Lori Motsch, superintendent of New Lenox School District 112, said the ruling provided a learning opportunity.

"In education, we call this a 'teachable' moment. We ask families to take time prior to Monday to have a conversation with their child regarding the importance of respecting the personal choices of each member of our school community," Motsch said. "What a wonderful opportunity to teach kids about kindness and respect!"

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This article originally appeared on the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch