Masks Optional On School Buses: Geneva District 304

GENEVA, IL —Starting Monday, students, teachers and staff are no longer required to wear masks on Geneva School District 304 buses, officials announced Saturday.

The district's updated guidance comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed their own regulations, effective Feb. 25, to ax mask requirements on buses or vans operated by public and private school systems.

In a message to the community, Superintendent of Schools Kent Mutchler said the decision is also a result of current low transmission rates in Kane County.

"In the Low Risk category, while individuals may choose to wear a mask at any time, there is no formal recommendation for masking anywhere in the community, including on school buses," he said.

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Before this change, buses were the last place District 304 officials required masking — a result of the CDC's guidance. Now that the recommendations have changed, officials are adhering to them.

Mutchler also noted district officials are waiting for additional guidance to be released by Illinois departments regarding mitigation strategies.

"We understand you may have additional questions regarding other mitigation measures that Geneva 304 currently has in place," he said. "We are currently awaiting additional information from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health regarding these additional mitigation strategies, and we will keep you informed as we learn more.

Monday also marks the day indoor mask mandates ended in both Chicago and throughout Illinois.

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