Red Bud School Board approved reopening plan

Will recommend but not require wearing masks

“These decisions will affect the entire community and our kids,” Julie Schmoll said when addressing the Red Bud Board of Education at their Aug. 5 special meeting. “You have to make a decision and it needs to be about the kids.”

The school board held this special meeting last week with the reopening plan for this fall as the main item on the agenda. It was a highly attended meeting, with many parents wanting to see if the school board would follow the governor’s new mandate, as well as express their concerns and ask questions.

Last month, Superintendent Jonathan Tallman had noted that the plan was for the school district to resume “the traditional schedule and be in session all day with 3 p.m. dismissals.” In addition, they would follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance of recommending face coverings for all individuals, but not require them. 

However, Governor JB Pritzker issued a mandate on Aug. 4 that face masks would be required for all students, teachers and staff at all schools in the State of Illinois.

For more on the reopening plan and the school board meeting, please see this week’s print edition.