By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – Elected leaders in Bloomington School District 87 will meet in special session Wednesday to consider administrators’ plan to start the school year with a mask requirement.
All students and staff would be required to wear masks, while children and adults would also have to wear masks while riding school buses, according to the district’s plans.
While masks would be mandatory, District administrators won’t require vaccinations, although they “strongly encourage” vaccines.
Administrators said they’re unveiling a plan crafted “after careful consideration and consultation with local health officials, local pediatricians, parents, staff members, IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health, Governor Pritzker, our school attorney, our risk management provider, and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).”
“These mitigations are subject to change as new information becomes available from IDPH, the CDC, or the Illinois State Board of Education,” the district said.
District 87 also intends to practice social distancing, assigning seats on school bus routes and in lunchrooms, in addition to using acrylic desktop barriers in all schools, and trying to keep everyone apart when possible in classrooms and hallways.
The district said school nurses will administer COVID-19 tests with parents’ consent.
Wednesday’s special school board meeting is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at the Bloomington High School auditorium.
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