The Examiner U-46 News Feed

COVID-related resolution passed by U-46 board

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 will defer to agencies in  making COVID-related decisions as the 2022-2023 school year begins.
  The board, without discussion or questioning, approved a resolution supporting the return to in-person instruction following direction from federal down to local “health” agencies at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 8. The vote was 5-0, board members Dawn Martin and Kate Thommes were absent.
  A similar resolution was approved last year when school districts were required to return to in-person learning. The resolution continues to cite Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s original emergency orders in 2020.
  The resolution states there’s “no policy compelling” the vote, but the board “wishes to express its support” for Superintendent Tony Sanders’ directives it claims he has authority to make students, staff and visitors follow in public school facilities.
  “The Superintendent and the Superintendent’s designees are hereby authorized and directed to implement and enforce the plan and are further authorized to require students, staff, parents, visitors and other participants in the District’s programs to comply with the Plan and with the directives of the Superintendent and the Superintendent’s designees,” the resolution states. “The Superintendent is further authorized to modify the Plan from time to time to address operational needs in connection with federal, State, local public health guidance.”
  The resolution states contact tracing will continue as well as forced compliance with executive order mandates such as staff requirements to submit to COVID shots. The district will also attempt to track staff and student inoculation rates.
  “Such system shall then be used to determine when prevention strategies, including social distancing and mask usage, can be incrementally reduced when data suggests it is safe to do so,” the resolution states.
  What should be noted is that U-46 was one of several school districts in the state that were told by a court earlier this year that it cannot force mask wearing without due process. That court precedent remains in place.
  The resolution also states the superintendent can “close a building” or “limit access” of visitors.