Dixon School Board approves plan following mask mandate

DIXON - The Dixon School Board unanimously approved a return-to-learn plan Wednesday that follows the governor’s mask mandate for all students and staff.

A few dozen parents and children rallied prior to the board meeting with “unmask our children” signs, one spoke out during the meeting, and several wrote letters for the board to read aloud.

Masks were required for everyone who attended the meeting inside.

The board received 15 letters from parents and community members, and nine were against masking children in schools.

Parent Donna Jasper was one of two people to speak during the meeting’s public comment portion and called on the board to stand up against the state mask mandate.

Parent Sarah Bingaman also spoke and said they should trust in pediatricians, who recommend children wear masks in school.

A few local doctors wrote letters encouraging the district to follow the mandate and repeated guidance that masks prevent the risk of people catching and/or spreading the virus.

Not following the order could risk worsening the pandemic and cause schools to shut down again, Dr. Thomas Gehlbach wrote.

Board members Melissa Gates and Jon Wadsworth said the conversation would be different if Gov. JB Pritzker hadn’t issued a school mask mandate last week.

The choice in this situation isn’t really much of a choice, district attorney Tim Zollinger said.

The state legislature gives the governor authority to enact necessary measures during an emergency or public health crisis, such as the coronavirus pandemic, and his mandate is law, he said.

If the board went against the mandate, the district would be at risk of legal consequences that could result in losing state funding.

Tess Flemming wrote to the board about the potential long term health implications from COVID-19, and how many parents don’t realize the damage the virus can cause, making it crucial that they listen to doctors and nurses.

Superintendent Margo Empen went over the plan, and emphasized that the district is doing everything it can to keep students and employees safe.

Goals of the plan include providing a safe environment for students and staff, returning to full in-person school days, limiting exposure by following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, avoiding the risk of liability and financial loss as a result of not following the state guidance, and cautiously moving toward a more normal school year.

All students, staff and visitors will be required to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination, as per the governor’s mask mandate for schools. Masks must also be worn by all on school buses.

Social distancing of 3 feet will be required, as well as hand-washing and sanitizing. Surfaces and classrooms will be cleaned daily.

Individuals feeling sick or showing symptoms will be quarantined and evaluated before being picked up, and on-site testing will be available with parental consent.

Those who aren’t vaccinated who come in contact with someone infected with COVID-19 will be required to quarantine. Vaccinated individuals without symptoms do not need to be quarantined or tested.

The district will continue to work with the Lee County Health Department on recommendations, which are subject to change.

Board President Linda Wegner said she’s excited to welcome students back to full in-person learning, and is glad the district is promoting getting vaccinated, which is the “best way to get back to normal.”

“We have more than 3,000 staff and students that are our responsibility to keep safe,” she said. “We’re all just doing the best we can.”