As the White House promises to pressure local governments to open schools in the fall, details for Springfield schools are still largely unknown. On Tuesday, July 7, President Donald Trump said, “We’re very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools.” That declaration comes as some parts of the U.S. experience an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Local health experts have said a recent rise in confirmed cases in Sangamon County deserves serious monitoring. District 186 has yet to release details for the coming school year. The window recently closed on a survey soliciting feedback from parents, including a question about whether they have concerns about their children wearing face masks. The Illinois State Board of Education has said all individuals in school buildings must wear masks and socially distance. A task force has been meeting to discuss how guidelines might be implemented by Springfield Public Schools. More specifics could be announced at a July 20 school board meeting.
This article appears in The Colored Section.
