Kane County Reporter

A temporary restraining order (TRO) was granted by an Illinois judge Friday, effectively prohibiting school districts across the state from having to mandate masks in classrooms.

The decision prompted comments from state Sen. Don DeWitte (R-West Dundee) who shared an NBC5 story about the order in a tweet Monday morning. 

“I’ve said all along that these decisions should be made locally, where local elected officials, health departments, and parents are making decisions that are best for children and the community,” DeWitte wrote in his tweet. 

According to the report by NBC5, the TRO, granted Friday, does not apply to Chicago Public Schools. Among criticisms, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has called the decision “misguided,” urging the state Attorney General’s office to issue an appeal. Under the TRO, defendants, including Pritzker, will be temporarily restrained from ordering school districts to require masks for students and teachers unless a local health department issues a quarantine order. 

This comes as parents and teachers from more than 150 school districts across Illinois were involved in the lawsuit, which challenged Pritzker’s mandate requiring masks inside all school buildings, ABC7 reports. 

Of these, NBC5 reports, attorney Thomas DeVore represented more than 700 parents involved in the lawsuit, which alleged that Pritzker’s mask mandate did not follow due process.

While some school districts, including Arlington Heights SD 25, Burbank SD 111 and Crystal Lake Elementary District 47, are recognizing the ruling and implementing mask-optional or “mask recommended” policies, other districts, such as Elgin Area SD U46, are keeping their universal masking policies in place.