Chicago City Wire

The former leader of the nation’s third-largest public school district questioned a private school’s decision to comply with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mask mandate.

Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst earlier this month announced that it wouldn’t require masks for its faculty, staff, and student body until it studied the legality of the mandate.

The state, in turn, revoked its recognition of Timothy and barred its sports teams from participating in competitions.

Timothy has since reversed course, stating it will follow the mandate.

Pritzker’s issuance of a universal mask mandate for public and private schools in response to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Illinois created a statewide uproar, DuPage Policy Journal reported.

Paul Vallas, who used to head Chicago Public Schools, asserted that a contradiction exists between Springfield stripping Timothy of its recognition when it initially opposed the mandate and CPS’s possible delayed opening.

"If State revoking recognition of Timothy Christian School is about SAFETY, will State do same to CPS if Chicago Teachers Union forces delayed school opening?” Vallas Tweeted. “During COVID, 112 Chicago kids murdered & 18 suicides compared to 5 who died from COVID. Each had pre-existing illness."

CPS is scheduled to commence classes next month.

Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago’s top physician, told NBC Chicago that it’s safe for schools to open.