Dear Kirby School District 140 Families and Staff,
On Friday, a court ruling in Springfield resulted in a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Governor from enforcing his executive orders that require masks for all students, staff, and visitors, as well as requiring mandatory vaccinations or COVID-19 testing for school employees. While approximately 150 of Illinois’ 840 school districts are named in the lawsuits, Kirby School District 140 was not among them.
Therefore, this decision has no immediate impact on our District’s COVID-19 mitigation measures. However, we are aware that an appeal will be swiftly filed and an Appellate Court decision may come quickly (within 1-2 weeks). This decision will likely provide a ruling that will have a broader and more definitive impact for public school districts in Illinois, including Kirby School District 140. To that end, we will continue to monitor the Appellate Court process, and communicate updates as they are made available.
In the meantime, to limit disruption to our school community, D140’s current rules regarding masking and close contact exclusion requirements will remain in place. Despite the challenges of the last two years, we have not wavered in our commitment to your children’s health and safety. We appreciate your continued patience and support as we navigate this ever-changing legal situation.
As we return to school tomorrow, we recognize that members of our school community have differing feelings and opinions regarding these measures. Unfortunately, schools have been put in untenable positions throughout the pandemic and now is no different. I want to stress the importance of treating everyone with kindness and respect as conditions change and as we navigate the next two weeks.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shawn Olson
Superintendent
Kirby School District 140