A central Illinois lawmaker is calling on Governor JB Pritzker to allow local school districts the autonomy to make their own decisions regarding COVID policies with the 2021-22 school year starting next month.

Despite murky guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health, districts across the state have already started taking control of their policies as many implement a mask-optional back-to-school plan. State Senator Chapin Rose is calling on the Governor to allow these local boards to be in charge of their policies.

The Mahomet Republican contends teachers who want a vaccine can get one and have for some time. With such a low risk of this virus to kids, Sen. Rose believes all students should be able to go back to school without a mask if that is the decision of their families.

According to Sen. Rose, there remains confusion in the guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education. He believes the Governor is either going to have to side with ISBE or the families of Illinois.

Central Illinois and Chicago suburban school districts have begun the momentum of establishing mask-optional policies for when kids go back in August.