Peoria Standard

An Illinois state senator conducted an informal poll on social media asking followers if they think local school boards or the state health department should have the authority to decide if a school can reopen for in-person learning under new compliance requirements. 

Sen. Win Stoller (R-Peoria) posted his Facebook poll May 11, weeks after the House voted 70-42 in favor of giving the Illinois Department of Public Health the authority to allow individual schools to resume in-person learning following a year of COVID-19 health and safety concerns. 

"Currently, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) provides schools with COVID-19 guidance, but allows local school districts to determine for themselves whether they need to shut down in-person learning," Stoller said in a post to his Facebook page May 11. "Now, there is a bill (HB 2789) moving through the General Assembly that would give IDPH the power to close schools and school facilities for public, private and parochial schools if a compliance complaint is filed. Do you believe the decision to shut down in-person learning should be left up to the local school districts, or should IDPH be given this new authority?" 

As of May 21, 98% of the 57 respondents believe that the local school board should decide. 

The House legislation is backed by the Illinois Education Association and would apply to public, private and parochial schools. It was largely approved along party lines.  

According to the Illinois Education Association website, the bill will standardize COVID-19 protocols and enforcement. The bill determines when and how in-person learning can be offered. 

IDPH and the Illinois State Board of Education filed a notice of their opposition to the bill, along with 86 other groups. Only four groups formally support the bill.