February 6, 2022

Dear Barrington 220 Community:

Many of you are aware that there are two lawsuits in Illinois regarding COVID mitigations and school districts. Friday afternoon, Judge Raylene Grischow ruled in favor of a Temporary Restraining Order for both cases. We have consulted with our legal counsel and effective Monday, February 7, 2022:

  • Barrington 220 will be in a mask recommended, but not required environment for all students and staff. (The ruling also means the district will not be able to enforce the mitigation plan, which included situational masking, that the Board of Education approved at its Jan. 31 meeting.) That being said, the district highly recommends students and staff continue wearing masks in alignment with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). 
  • Masks will still be required on any school-based transportation due to the federal CDC order.
  • Due to the ruling, Barrington 220 will not be contact tracing or excluding close contacts. 
  • Per the Lake County Health Department, students and staff who test positive will be required to isolate and will be excluded from school. 
  • Any students and staff who are currently excluded due to being a close contact may choose to return to school effective Monday, Feb. 7. 
  • SHIELD Testing will continue for those who choose to participate. 
  • Staff members who are unvaccinated will not be required to test weekly.

It is important to note that it is likely that the attorney general will file a motion to stay and appeal the judge’s decision. If a stay is ordered or the appellate court overturns the decision, Barrington 220 will be required to return to universal masking.

As we return to school on Monday, we know that moving to a mask recommended, but not required environment will be a big change for our students and staff. One thing that is not changing is all of the other mitigation measures we have in place. These measures have allowed us to maintain a healthy and safe environment throughout this school year. We want to reassure you that the health and safety of our students and staff are our top priority. It is critical now more than ever that you partner with us so that we can keep our schools open. Please make sure you are monitoring your child’s health and keep them home if they are not feeling well. 

Lastly, I want to stress the importance of treating everyone with respect and kindness during this time as our students and staff make individual choices regarding masking. We need to continue to work together as a school and community as we move forward.