Streator High reports smooth transition to mask optional policy

Streator High School Principal Amy Jo Mascal said about half of students still wear masks during the school day.

The high school’s board voted 4-2 on Feb. 7 to follow the recent restraining order from Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow, which blocked nearly 170 school districts named in Greenville attorney Thomas DeVore’s lawsuit from enforcing mask requirements, among other COVID-19 policy items. The high school district was not named in the litigation.

The vote made masks optional the next day when students returned to class.

A week into the new policy, Mascal said she still hands out masks to students coming into the school for those who want to wear one, and some of them take them — but it’s their choice. She said there have not been any complaints since last week’s board vote.

“It’s gone smoothly,” the principal said.

Board member Gary Wargo said during Tuesday’s regular board meeting he was unable to attend last week’s vote on the mask requirement, because of a personal emergency. He went on record Tuesday saying he would have voted in favor of masks being optional, meaning five board members were in favor of the vote.

The Streator High School’s board vote came before a legislative panel on Tuesday voted to suspend the latest version of COVID-19 mitigations for public schools, saying in part those rules are still being litigated in a state appellate court. That vote means, for the time being, there is no state mandate on mitigation measures for public or private K-12 schools.

In other items, the board:

• Learned a camera system was installed at the field house by Ficek Electric at a cost of $10,714 and will be connected to the high school’s main building.
• Approved authorizing the superintendent to bid the tennis court lights replacement project.
• Approved the purchase of a floor scrubber for $11,574 to be paid for by excess funds from the food service program.
• Authorized the superintendent to seek bids for a new vehicle. The high school’s 2008 Chevy Uplander sub-frame is in poor shape, requiring the vehicle to be removed from service.
• Approved creation of a new vocational teacher at a $40,400 salary plus benefits.
• Authorized the the hiring of summer custodial workers.