McHenry Times

State Sen. Don DeWitte (R-West Dundee) is championing a downstate judge’s decision that effectively prohibits a statewide mask requirement in schools.

“I’ve said all along that these decisions should be made locally, where local elected officials, health departments, and parents are making decisions that are best for children and the community,” DeWitte posted on Twitter following the ruling by Sangamon Court Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow on Feb. 4. Parents had filed suit last year against more than 140 school districts, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education charging that the mandate lacked due process.

The ruling asserts that “defendants are temporarily restrained from ordering school districts to require masks for students and teachers - unless a quarantine order is issued by a local health department.”

In the wake of the verdict, schools are weighing if they will continue with a mask mandate or to make them optional. School districts in Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Arlington Heights, Barrington and Wheaton have chosen to make masks optional. The judge's decision covers districts across much of the state but not Chicago Public Schools

More than 700 parents were part of the suit filed on their behalf by attorney Thomas DeVore.

Shortly after the decision was announced, Pritzker said he would appeal the ruling.