As school starts, some schools are following the state wide mask mandate, while others are continuing with earlier return to learning plans that recommend - but do not require - masks.
Benton elementary district superintendent Steve Smith said his district is following guidelines from experts at the Centers for Disease Control and that during a special meeting, community members showed up to support the current plan, which goes against the new state mandate regarding masks in schools.
"Our school board unanimously approved our district's return to learning plan, which included and continues to follow, the CDC's recommendation of recommending masks," Smith said.
Pope County Schools superintendent Ryan Fritch, said the mask mandate has been a contentious issue for parents in his district as well, but the school's decision to comply isn't about politics.
"As a school district you have to put politics and personal feelings to the side and you have to follow what the law says. And right now the law's telling us everybody in the school system has to have a mask on, so that's what we're going with," he said.
Both superintendents said the rapidly changing guidance and short notice has been challenging for schools preparing for the new year.
The governor has said that schools who don't follow the mandate could face loss of recognition from the Illinois State School Board.
