North Cook News

A group of parents of children at St. Viator H.S. in Arlington Heights is asking school board president Rev. Dan Hall to engage with them on his forced masking policy.

Hall cancelled school Tuesday, one day after the school dean called the Arlington Heights police on a group of "more than 50" mask-less St. Viator students before sending them home, sources tell North Cook News.

In a confrontation with students and parents Monday morning, School principal Fr. Dan Lydon claimed he was "unaware" of any discontent over masks and that he hadn't seen a letter and petition they emailed him days earlier, calling on the school to implement a mask-optional policy.

"We choose to send our children to Saint Viator because we believe it is in their best interests, yet the COVID policies they have been subjected to are not in their best interests and have been determined by the interests of secular agencies who quietly coerce schools to comply with policies that harm students," the letter read.

After a Sangamon County court struck down Gov. J.B Pritzker's statewide student mask mandate, School Board President Hall announced Sunday that he would replace Pritzker's with his own school forced masking policy. He also demanded parents refrain from communicating with school leadership on the topic, or writing about their divergent views on social media.

"While some of you may disagree with this approach, we ask that you comply," Hall wrote. "Please allow (school leaders to enforce masks) without challenging them through email, phone or in person."

Parent Chris Salatino of Arlington Heights said Hall's refusal to explain the rationale behind school policies is fueling acrimony. 

"The actions of (school leaders) have only created more division in the community.  They have not been the pillar that unites us in the Faith.  This has been a role the church have historically played," said parent Chris Salatino. "Our hope is to get back to that ultimately, however in the mean time allow our kids the freedom to conduct their lives normally again.  They have carried the biggest burden these last two years."

"My 14 year old son told me, 'At this point it’s not about obedience. It’s about suppression. Because the students who have a voice, are being silenced.'"

St. Viator is run by the Arlington Heights-based Viatorians Catholic order. Founded in 1961, it has an enrollment of 880.

St. Viator's Board of Trustees meets Tuesday night. It includes Dr. Kerry Connelly, Nick Espinosa, Arthur Casey, David Hogaboom, Kevin Kuhn, Cassandra McKenna, Kate O'Brien, Thomas O'Neill, Nick Papanicholas, Jim Platania, Rocco Smeriglio, Caroline Starr and three members of the Viatorians order-- Corey Boost, James Presta and John Van Wiel.