Masking isn't today's conversation any longer.

That's how Blue Ridge Schools Superintendent Dr. Hilary Stanifer on the WHOW Morning Show Thursday described the current atmosphere of masking in their schools. She explains they followed many other districts in going mask-optional soon after a Sangamon County judge ruled in favor of Illinois parents.

While many superintendents up-and-down Illinois including some local superintendents fought hard for the restoration of local control, Dr. Stanifer was often compliant with those edicts, rarely speaking out on the situation. She indicates she feels more comfortable now advocating for those decisions to be local.

While Dr. Stanifer separates COVID mandates from the hundreds of mandates that are in place at the State level, she recognizes there are so many of them that it takes away the district's ability to move forward in its intended purpose of educating children.

Dr. Stanifer described the atmosphere of the school as starting to come back to life after the mask restrictions were lifted. She says it's been fun to get to know the faces again.