Austin ISD Will Keep Mask Mandate In Place Despite Court Ruling

Austin TX

16 August, 2021

1:20 PM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — Austin ISD will keep its mask mandate in place despite the Texas Supreme Court's ruling in favor of Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order, which bans mandates in public schools. The school district announced Monday masks will still be required once classes begin Wednesday despite Sunday's ruling. Authorities said the lawsuit only involved mask mandates in Dallas and Bexar counties, not Travis County or Austin ISD. Masks will still be required in all Austin ISD schools and facilities. *** Los cubrebocas son obligatorios en todas las escuelas e instalaciones del Austin ISD. https://t.co/yoMUpfZhRE— Austin ISD (@AustinISD) August 16, 2021 School district officials said it will be complying with the Austin-Travis County order, which requires masks to be worn in all public buildings and schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. and will keep the district's mask requirement. "Until we end up in litigation directly with the governor, we're going to keep our requirement that public schools require masks in place," said Travis County Judge Andy Brown. Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde wrote a column in Time Magazine stating that she realizes that the governor's order may mean that Austin ISD may be fined, but she would rather pay money than risk a child's life. "What if a child dies on my watch? How do I say to you, 'I'm really sorry. We did everything we could except for masking because the governor's executive order prohibited me from doing so.' What does that do for a parent? How does that bring them comfort or solace?," she wrote. "I can live with someone telling me, 'I told you so.' I cannot live with a tragedy occurring because I was afraid of the possible consequences of defying part of the governor's order." The school district isn't the only district in the metro area to implement a mask mandate. Del Valle ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Bastrop ISD, Eanes ISD, Hays CISD, Manor ISD and Austin Community College. To prepare for the upcoming school year, Austin ISD also hosted four COVID-19 testing sites near six zip codes that have been hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. Families and AISD staff who live and work in the designated "COVID-19 hot spots" were able to access a free rapid test at one of the drive-thru events from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., officials said. RELATED COVERAGE:Texas Supreme Court Temporarily Halts Mask Orders In Dallas And Bexar Counties Texas Officials Plead With Abbott To Rescind Mask Executive Order 2 Austin Eateries Backtrack On Vaccine Proof After State Warning