Parents across the suburbs have appearing before school boards in recent weeks urging districts to either require students wear masks or make them optional. (John Starks | Staff Photographer)
Masks will be strongly encouraged but not required for unvaccinated students and staff when school starts next month in Libertyville Elementary District 70.
The stance is a turnaround for Superintendent Matt Barbini, who two weeks ago said students in the district’s four elementary schools, as well as unvaccinated students and staff at Highland Middle School, would be required to wear masks indoors.
Barbini said that over the past few weeks he has read and heard “some very strong opinions” on masking in schools and, after “a considerable amount of reflection and soul searching,” he changed course. He said it would be difficult to enforce a mask requirement and keeping it could lead to “open conflict” in a divided community.
District officials said they don’t want principals or teachers having to enforce a masking rule.
“It’s a polarizing issue, and I understand that,” Barbini said Monday. “We’re not going to make either side happy.”
The district will be require masks for all students and adults on school buses, per directives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
District 70 joins Oak Grove Elementary District 68, Grayslake High School District 127 and Arlington Heights Elementary District 25, among others, in not mandating masks.
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