South Central Reporter

North Mac High School students in Virden, Ill., staged a walkout in protest over the school's quarantine policies after six football players at the school were forced to the sidelines for at least 10 days after being exposed to COVID-19.

Angry students and parents both argue all six of the players subsequently tested negative after traveling to Sangamon County for SHEILD tests that rendered rapid results. The players contend they were told by school officials that if they tested negative they would be able to suit up for the team’s game against Riverton.  

According to Jakob Emerson TV, it was only after the players had already tested negative that the Virden Superintendent Jay Goble informed them they needed to test onsite at the school in order to be eligible to play in the game. With North Mac not yet set up for those kinds of test programs, student athletes there who are exposed to COVID-19 have to do the full 10-day quarantine.

North Mac government teacher Matthew Allen is one of those raising his voice in support of the students.

“I’m out here because I’m a parent in the community,” he told Jakob Emerson TV. “We cannot put power in the hands of a few people. What’s happening here is the legislative branch in Illinois has given their power up to the executive authority.”

Allen added his position as a parent with a child in the local school system, while also being a football coach and American government teacher, give him a unique perspective.

“I kinda know what I’m talking about,” he added. “I do not agree with our superintendent. I do not agree with our school board and health department. They’re taking their executive authority too far. If the masks work, why are we quarantining students with the negative tests?

Those pushing for the tighter restrictions point to recent Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) statistics that show infection rates are on the rise for 12- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 22-year-olds, Illinois Valley Sun reported.

Goble hints that just considering the raw numbers can be deceiving.

"As far as the issue with quarantining students, our frustration is that an outbreak is defined as two or more positive cases in a classroom or confined space, and when there is an outbreak all unvaccinated individuals within that space must quarantine,” he said in a statement. “Despite having only nine positive cases at the HS, these restrictive outbreak rules have resulted in 116 students being forced to quarantine. 

"Our problem is not with the mandate to quarantine exposed students," Goble continued. "Our problem is with the incredibly restrictive definition of two or more positive cases. Last year it was two or more at the start the year and then raised to five. Then this year, without any reason, it was dropped back down to two or more. This, and this alone, has devastated our high school in regard to the number of students that are forced to quarantine. We are quickly coming to a point where we are going to have to return to remote learning. As things stand now, over 30% of our high school students are in quarantine."

According to IDHP data, as of Sept. 3, the state has now suffered at least 1,538,324 total cases of the virus with 24,067 deaths.