The Illinois State Board of Education released its updated “School Recognition Status Change Summary” report on December 23 which included two local school districts as well as one more public school district and a private school being put “on probation.” The Vandalia School District, who was a part of a video conference call on December 19 to state its case to representatives of ISBE, has been placed on probation after going back to its locally controlled COVID-19 mitigation plan on December 6. As part of Level 1 of the plan, masks are not mandated in the district but recommended per CDC guidance. Also listed on the newest report was the Brownstown School District who has also been following its localized “Safe Return to School Plan” with masks recommended for all but not mandated as part of its updated layered strategy in effect since December 6 and was also placed “on probation” as of December 23. After being placed “on probation,” each district had 10 days to file an appeal with Monday being the deadline. On Monday afternoon, Vandalia Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Garrison confirmed that Vandalia’s appeal had been filed and Brownstown Superintendent Mike Shackelford said Brownstown’s appeal would be filed on Monday afternoon. Each district is now in a wait and see period while ISBE considers their appeals.
St. Anne School District in Kankakee County and Unity Christian School in Whiteside County were also put on probation on December 23. The seven private schools who were recommended for nonrecognition on December 8, which included the Vandalia Christian Academy, saw no status change with the December 23 status update report.
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