Austin ISD Will Require Face Masks For 2021-22 School Year

Austin TX

10 August, 2021

10:49 AM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — Austin ISD will require students, staff and visitors to wear a mask on school properties starting Wednesday ahead of its 2021-2022 school year. The school district joins Dallas ISD as one of the few districts to defy Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order, which states schools are not allowed to issue a mask mandate. Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde made the decision Monday evening after the district held a virtual board meeting with parents discussing COVID-19 safety protocol before the new school year begins on Aug. 17. Starting Wednesday, August 11, students, staff and visitors will need to wear face masks when on school properties, Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde announced late Monday at a school board meeting. #AISDProudhttps://t.co/GezHCqthG5 https://t.co/GezHCqthG5— Austin ISD (@AustinISD) August 10, 2021 During the meeting, many parents spoke up and pleaded with officials to defy the governor's orders and issue a mask mandate as cases surge, staffed ICU beds are limited and COVID-19 hospitalizations burden hospital staff in the region. MORE ON THAT STORY: Austin-Area Hospitals Issue Plea To Get Vaccinated "I am responsible for the safety, health and welfare of each and every one of our students and our staff. If I err, I must err on the side of ensuring that we've been overly cautious, not that we have fallen short," Elizalde said. Travis County's Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes, who also spoke at the meeting, said she approved the district's decision to issue a mask mandate and to implement COVID-19 contact tracing, which the district announced it would do on Friday. WHAT TO KNOW: Austin ISD Will Conduct COVID-19 Contact Tracing Authorities said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended on July 9 to implement universal indoor masking in schools as a way to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19, especially when paired with other safety measures such as vaccines, social distancing, rapid tests and increasing ventilation. "These protocols are especially important for the protection and health and safety of our youngest and most vulnerable students who cannot be vaccinated at this time," said Board President Geronimo Rodriguez. District officials said while they are aware the mask mandate defies the governor's executive order, there was a lower positivity rate inside schools versus the community at-large when masks were required throughout the 2020-21 school year. Gov. Abbott's press secretary released a statement Monday afternoon in response to Austin ISD's decision to defy the order. "We are all working to protect Texas children and those most vulnerable among us, but violating the Governor's executive orders —and violating parental rights — is not the way to do it," the office said. "Governor Abbott has been clear that the time for mask mandates is over; now is the time for personal responsibility. Parents and guardians have the right to decide whether their child will wear a mask or not, just as with any other decision in their child's life." The office said the governor has spent his entire time in office fighting for the rights and freedoms of all Texas, and the office continues working with the Office of the Texas Attorney General to do that. "The best defense against this virus is the COVID vaccines, and we continue to strongly encourage all eligible Texans to get vaccinated," the office said. The district will also offer virtual learning for Kindergarten-3rd grade students who are not eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. RELATED COVERAGE: Back To School: Pflugerville ISD 2021-22 School Calendar Back To School: Leander ISD 2021-22 School Calendar Back To School: Round Rock ISD 2021-22 School Calendar St. Edward's University Will Require Face Masks