Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
As an update to our recent message regarding the CDC announcement last week that anyone who is fully vaccinated may, with exceptions, participate in indoor and outdoor activities without wearing a mask or physical distancing. The exceptions noted require wearing masks while on buses, trains, planes and public transportation.
Following the CDC announcement, we shared that D128 was awaiting direction and guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and/or the Lake County Health Department (LCHD) regarding this significant change and application to school settings. In the interim, school districts were advised to continue to follow existing school pandemic guidance, including but not limited to, all individuals wearing masks at school and on campus regardless of vaccination status.
As expected, the LCHD notified county school districts today that based on existing CDC - IDPH - ISBE pandemic school guidance, school districts should continue to follow all school pandemic guidance, including masking and social distancing, for at least the remainder of the 2020-2021 academic year and/or until such time that the IDPH - ISBE issues revised school pandemic guidance.
As such, school pandemic guidance has not changed, and both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals will be required to wear masks in school and while on the school campus.
As always, when we receive additional IDPH - ISBE - LCHD guidance, we will evaluate and adjust as warranted.
Dr. Prentiss Lea
Superintendent