No issues regarding mask mandate reported at Payson, Quincy schools on first day

Classes started Wednesday without incident at several schools around Adams County as students followed state mask mandates in the Payson and Quincy school districts.

Students arrived at Payson Elementary School with backpacks, school supplies and smiles hiding behind their masked faces. Principal Julie Phelan met families outside and greeted students. She gently reminded a few students to put on their mask before going inside.

Many parents grabbed a photo with their child before giving them a hug or a kiss (or both). One parent told her children not to pull their mask up over their nose. Another parent told his child to call him “if you don’t want to wear the mask any more.”

Phelan said later Wednesday morning that “things went as well as expected” at the elementary school and junior/senior high school buildings. 

Masks are “highly recommended” in Community School District No. 3 in Camp Point and Community School District No. 4 in Mendon, but both school boards have meetings scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday. Both districts were informed in recent days in a letter from the Illinois State Board of Education that they have been put on probation for not adhering to Gov. JB Pritzker’s mask mandate for all students, teachers and staff — regardless of vaccination status. Masks are mandatory only on buses. 

Superintendent Erica Smith reported no incidents in Central schools on Wednesday and said many students were wearing masks.

Superintendent Scott Riddle was unavailable Wednesday morning, but a representative in his office said “everything went very smoothly” in schools around Mendon.

Quincy Public Schools had no incidents on the district’s first day, but Quincy Superintendent Roy Webb said he was still checking with principals throughout the district late Wednesday morning.

Classes in Community School District No. 2 in Liberty begin Monday.

MRN Publisher J. Robert Gough contributed to this story.