Geneva holds debate over masks in schools
GENEVA, Ill. - Some suburban parents are fighting back against mask recommendations and want their kids to go without masks to school this fall.
"We believe that it's a medical decision that should be placed back into the hands of parents and out of the hands of a school board," said Chrissi Bretz.
Bretz is one of a number of parents in Geneva Community Unit School District 304 who feels masks should be optional for students who are vaccinated and those who are not.
"It's really hard to speak socially because people ask you to repeat yourself," said student Emma Harvey.
"I get lightheaded and I start getting headaches," said student Angelica Bean.
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Some parents say masks take a toll on their child’s mental health and development.
"I want mental health to be just as important as physical health," said parent Janelle Maciaszek.
These calls by suburban parents came on the same day the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its guidance for the upcoming school year, now recommending that everyone over the age of 2 wear masks in school, regardless of vaccination status.
AAP: STUDENTS, STAFF SHOULD WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOLS - REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS
Dr. Shikha Jain with the University of Illinois at Chicago supports this recommendation.
"There are so many children who are still unvaccinated. And also because there’s a lot of communities where the vaccine rates are not that high," said Dr. Jain.
She says if we want to keep kids learning in-person, masks are the way to do it.
"The science backs me up here, that masks are one of the ways to get us out of this pandemic," Dr. Jain said. "And more importantly right now on this topic, it is the way to keep our kids in school safely."
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The school board did not take any formal action on the topic of masks Monday night.
The district says it is developing plans based on updated public health guidance and guidance from local health officials.