CUSD No. 4 (Mendon) School Board deadlocked, optional masks stay in place

MENDON, Ill. – The Community Unit School District No. 4 School Board didn’t muster the votes to overturn its decision to remain mask optional.

On August 4, the Board voted 5-2 to defy Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decree that masks would be required for all students, teachers and staff for Pre-K to 12 students across Illinois regardless of vaccination status.

At Wednesday night’s meeting, after the District was one of about 30 school districts put on probation for refusing to follow the governor’s order, the Board ended up at a 3-3 deadlock vote, which wasn’t even to reverse the decision it made two weeks ago. One board member, Jessica Humke, was absent due to illness.

The districts put on probation are in Adams, Clay, Clinton, Edwards, Effingham, Franklin, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Jefferson, Knox, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Peoria, Randolph, Wayne and Winnebago counties. Disciplinary actions began Aug. 12.

“These districts confirmed that they were not complying with the universal indoor masking requirement,” ISBE spokeswoman Jaklyn Matthews told the Daily Herald earlier this week. “These districts now have the opportunity to meet with ISBE and to submit a corrective action plan to address the deficiencies that are presenting a danger to students and staff. School districts that do not submit an approvable plan will lose recognition status, meaning total loss of access to state funding and the inability to participate in IHSA and IESA sports.”

Most of those same boards have been forced to re-examine their earlier edicts, including Community Unit School District No. 4.

CUSD No. 4 School Board President Jim Farmer said he expects the district will soon be contacted by Pritzker’s office. He reiterated the ISBE remarks and said the district could be threatened with the loss of state funding, its taxing authority and possibly see a situation like this affect teacher retirement. He said the state may also, at some point, not recognize Community Unit School District No. 4 as a public school district, but those kind of processes take extended periods, according to Farmer.

Farmer said the district will be working with legal counsel to determine what its next step(s) should be. He also said even though the board was divided in its vote, there was a unanimous feeling among its members.

“All of the board feels (Pritzker) has overstepped his powers with these executive orders,” Farmer said. “It seems like he is picking on people he can pick on.”

Board members favoring the optional mask policy were Louis Janssen, Ashley Shaffer and Steve Arnsman. Favoring mandatory masks were Board President Jim Farmer, Vice President Danielle Fleer and Julie Duke.

“All of the board feels (Pritzker) has overstepped his powers with these executive orders,” Farmer said. “It seems like he is picking on people he can pick on.” – Jim Farmer, CUSD No. 4 Board President.

“God gave us children with beautiful faces, and we need to see those faces,” said Arnsman, following a 3 1/2-hour meeting that included a two-hour executive session.

Arnsman asked a turnout of about 50 at the Unity High School gymnasium if any had contacted Pritzker’s office to make their feelings known. About half raised their hands, indicating they had. He encouraged them to keep up the phone calls and other means of contact.

“Flood the governor’s office,” Arnsman said. “Hopefully, it will help.”

Duke said the board has discussed the situation with other districts and health officials “and will continue to do so” in the foreseeable future.

“There are still a lot of questions out there,” Duke said.

About 10 different residents spoke in favor of retaining the optional masking mandate, including Clinton Stiefel of Ursa, who referred to Pritzker as a “dictator” and an example of “what’s going on in the world today.”

“This madness has to stop,” Stifel pleaded with the board. “Please do what’s right and stand up to this governor.”

Kristin Shaffer of Ursa also targeted Pritzker.

“We need more common sense,” she said. “The government is overstepping its boundaries.”

Shaffer said CDC studies indicate there is a greater chance of children dying from influenza than COVID-19. Multiple speakers asked why it is not mandatory to wear masks in most public sites and locations, but under Pritzker’s decree it would be required in schools.

Amy Lucie, a teacher in the Mendon District for 20 years, said, “It’s not so much about masks, it’s about control. I think we all know what is right. At some point, we have to decide if we’re going to take a stand.”

Matt Woodworth of Ursa cited several studies detailing what he says is damage done to children through mask wearing, most notably anxiety and stress.

“The science is there,” Woodworth said. “As a parent, we are asking (the board) to be our patriots.”