Dupage Policy Journal

The Elmhurst private school -- attended by the children of state House Speaker Chris Welch  -- that had been barred from athletic competition and lost state recognition because of its refusal to adhere to state mask mandates has reversed its position.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a universal mask mandate for public and private schools in response to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, creating a statewide uproar.

Earlier this month, ABC7Chicago reported, Timothy Christian Schools announced that it wouldn’t follow the mandate on grounds its legality needed to be studied.

In response, the state Illinois State Board of Education barred Timothy Christian sports teams from competing and stripped the school of its state recognition.

Illinois State Board of Education head Dr. Carmen Ayala notified school districts in correspondence obtained by Capital Fax that they have no authority to deny it, and if they do, they will face the potential of losing their recognition as a school district and could be barred from participating in IHSA/IESA sanctioned sporting events, WLDS reported.

“ISBE Director Carmen Ayala sent Timothy Christian school a status-revocation letter this evening - which is LAUGHABLE,” Emma Woodhouse tweeted. “Not only does she lie about what the school said in a video published today, she lies about mask efficacy & claims ISBE has authority it doesn't have.”

Patch reported that Timothy superintendent Matt Davidson on Aug. 11 posted a video announcing the schools’ intent to investigate the legality of the mandate, insisting it wasn’t “an act of defiance.”

Timothy and Springfield were subsequently engaged in a tense row before the former acquiesced to the state.

Davidson told ABC7Chicago that the schools’ ultimate decision to implement universal masking, which prompted the ISBE to reinstate recognition, “was an easy decision” and everyone is “ready to start school.”