D-205 Teachers Exempt From Saliva Test Mandate

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst School District 205 is requiring students undergo saliva testing for in-person learning, despite state guidance that a district has no legal authority to mandate it.

At the same time, it is exempting teachers and other staff from the testing.

Asked about this exemption, District 205 spokeswoman Beverly Redmond said in an email Tuesday, "The vast majority of Elmhurst CUSD 205 staff members have already received their first COVID-19 vaccination and are in the process of receiving their second vaccination, rendering saliva screening unwarranted. Additionally, students are more likely to be asymptomatic when positive than adults."

She did not say what percentage of teachers and other employees were choosing not to be vaccinated.

Recently, the district announced it was requiring weekly coronavirus screening of students in sixth through 12th grades if they want to attend in-person classes.

On Thursday, the Illinois School Board of Education told Patch that it could find no legal power for a district to require coronavirus screening of students. The state agency said it would reach out to the district.

The district confirmed Monday that its attorneys had determined that the state's guidance is not legally binding. It said its attorneys were talking with the state's.

The board has discussed the possibility of saliva testing since the fall. The screening is set to start Monday.