Dear Dr. Talley & District 204 School BoardBy keeping the schools of District 204 closed for in-person learning after the initial Covid-19 statewide emergency declaration, you have exceeded the legal authority granted to you as a school board by the State of Illinois.
As a local school board, you simply do not have the ability to involuntarily quarantine completely healthy students. The law is designed to keep contagious students isolated. Your policy is not only unprecedented, but illegal. Governor Pritzker knew that he lacked the legal authority to mandate such a quarantine, which is why he delegated the decision to local school boards. Of course, many schools around the state are open as is their legal obligation. 105 ILCS 5/10-21.11 provides for the authority of local school boards related to infectious disease policies and rules. It states, “Such policies and rules must include evaluation of students with a chronic infectious disease on an individual case-by-case basis.” The illegal policies implemented by the District 204 School Board are not based on individual cases of infection, but rather the prohibition of all students to attend school regardless of health status. In Illinois Administrative Code Title 77. Chapter 1. Subchapter K. Section 690.30 General Procedures for the Control of Communicable Diseases, it states, "Except in an emergency, the occurrence of a case of communicable disease in a school, child care facility or college / university should not be considered a reason for closing the school, facility or college / university." The only city, county or state declaration of emergency related to Covid-19 was limited to the early days of the pandemic and has long since expired. District 204 is in violation of this Illinois code of procedures for schools. The students and parents of District 204 demand that the Superintendent and Indian Prairie School Board immediately cease their illegal actions and open all District 204 school facilities to in-person learning. Remote learning should be a choice, not an involuntary and illegal requirement of a school board that has exceeded its authority over students. It's time to free the kids of District 204 from their involuntary quarantine they have suffered since March. Sincerely, The Parents and Students of District 204 Media and other inquires should be directed to 630-318-0005. |
