Greetings Ridgeview Families,
As we enter into the month of July, many of you are wondering what next school year will look like. We want so much, and it is our goal to make the upcoming school year be as normal as possible. The big question on all of our minds is will masks be required? Unfortunately, there is not an easy answer to this question at this time. There are many factors that must be considered: legal consequences, funding consequences, insurance coverage, recognition status, IESA and IHSA athletic eligibility, as well as the safety and quality of education that our students receive.
Governor Pritzker signed a resolution on June 25, 2021, extending his previous Executive Orders through July 24, 2021, stating schools must follow public health and ISBE guidelines for mask wearing. Recently ISBE communicated that the CDC is expected to share new guidance in July, and they in turn will provide updated requirements for the fall.
The Ridgeview Board of Education and I have the same frustrations and concerns as many of you. Since March 2020, Ridgeview has mindfully followed the requirements thrust upon us exceptionally well and with a common sense approach. We took safety precautions and kept our students in person as much as possible from the beginning. This was able to happen because of the incredible cooperation and understanding of the students, staff, families, Board of Education, and community of Ridgeview. Throughout this unprecedented time, we cautiously and carefully progressed toward a more normal learning environment, and we must continue to do so.
On June 24, a letter, signed by myself and 350 other superintendents in Illinois, was sent to Governor J.B. Pritzker; Deputy Governor Jesse Ruiz, Illinois Department of Public Health; and the State Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala and State Board of Education Members. This letter communicates the urgency of providing clear, consistent, and sensible guidance to Illinois school districts so that we can plan for the upcoming school year and communicate those plans to our families as soon as possible. This letter also asks for expectations that are appropriate for schools and are also consistent with other settings in Illinois.
This week, I joined many other superintendents in the state by signing a letter addressed to Dr. Carmen Ayala, State Superintendent of Schools in Illinois, asking that districts be given local control on COVID related decisions, including mask wearing. Additionally, I have met personally with State Representative Dan Brady and shared the same concerns addressed in the letters.
Please know we are aware of your concerns and frustrations, and as I communicated at the beginning of this letter, we are equally concerned and frustrated. Please be patient with us as we research and take into consideration the above factors and how they will impact our students, staff, and our District as a whole. Some tough decisions will have to be made in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, a step you can take to voice your concerns about any required mandate is to contact Governor J.B. Pritzker; Deputy Governor Jesse Ruiz; the Illinois Department of Public Health; and State Superintendent Carmen Ayala, Illinois State Board of Education. Below is contact information for each of these individuals, as well as information for contacting your specific State Senator or Representative:
Governor J.B. Pritzker
Office of the Governor
(217) 782-6830 or (217) 782-6831
Deputy Governor Jesse Ruiz
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
(217) 782-4977
Illinois State Board of Education
Dr. Carmen Ayala, State Superintendent - cayala@isbe.net
State Board of Education Members Illinois State Board of Education https://apps.isbe.net/ContactIsbe/
State Senator or Representative
Parent Letter to Illinois General Assembly
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding at this time. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at (309) 723-5111 or email me at eyoung@ridgeview19.org.
As always, thank you for your continued support of Ridgeview Schools!
Erik Young
Superintendent
Ridgeview CUSD #19