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Mask Guidelines Vary At Area Schools Despite State Mandate

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The state is mandating masks be worn in all P-12 public school buildings.

As local students start heading back to school, conflicts over mask mandates continue.

Last week, Governor JB Pritzker issued a mandate requiring masks in grades Pre-K through 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some school leaders and parents feel the decision to mask should be made at the local level. Benton's elementary school district is recommending masks for unvaccinated students, but is not mandating them.

When asked how schools are expected to enforce the mandate, Pritzker compared it to dress codes.

"School districts have been enforcing dress codes for years, so they're expected to do the same thing they've been doing literally for decades," he said.

In his initial announcement, Pritzker said schools which do not follow the mandate could be held liable for COVID cases in students. He also noted that schools which fail to follow the mandate could face loss of recognition by the Illinois State Board of Education, making them ineligible for state funding.

Steph Whiteside is a Digital Media News Specialist with WSIU radio in Carbondale, Ill. She previously worked as a general reporter at AJ+ and Current TV.
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