Round Rock ISD Will Temporarily Enforce Mask Mandate

Round Rock TX

17 August, 2021

9:43 AM

Description

ROUND ROCK, TX — Round Rock ISD will temporarily require all schools and facilities to wear face masks starting Wednesday, district officials announced Tuesday. The district's Board of Trustees approved the temporary mask mandate during their called meeting Monday afternoon as area schools implement their own mandates due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, particularly the highly contagious delta variant. The mandate will go into effect Wednesday, which kickstarts the district's 2021-22 school year. The requirement will expire on Sept. 17. The Board's regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16, and the Trustees could vote to extend the requirement at that time if conditions warrant, officials said. Under Round Rock ISD's new mask protocol, all students, teachers, staff members and adult visitors, including Trustees, must wear masks on buses and while inside school buildings when six feet of distance cannot be maintained. Starting Wednesday, Aug. 18, masks will temporarily be required at all District schools and facilities, following approval by the Board of Trustees during their Aug. 16 called meeting. More info at https://t.co/sSb3rJSLrq pic.twitter.com/05HDYUAgo9— Round Rock ISD (@RoundRockISD) August 17, 2021 Students and staff have the option to remove their masks while seated in cafeterias and staff lunch rooms and while outdoors. The requirement is not effective during athletics, fine arts, and physical education classes unless deemed appropriate by the coach, director or instructor, authorities said. "My ultimate responsibility is the health and welfare of our students. We must look at the science, listen to the experts, and do what is right to protect them. As several other superintendents who have made the decision to require masks have said, if we're going to err, I want to err on the side of caution," Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said. "As the public health climate continues to rapidly change, we must be willing to adapt and make decisions to protect our community as we know that masks are an essential tool in reducing the spread of COVID-19." Parents will have the option to opt their students out of the requirement if they choose. A form will be provided on the district website by Tuesday afternoon. RETURNING STUDENT INFO: Emails to the primary parent/guardian on file contain links to complete your student's required annual forms. If your student is not returning to a @RoundRockISD school, please return their District issued device, Chromebook, and/or hotspot to your campus. pic.twitter.com/qkaCNEDYE7— Round Rock ISD (@RoundRockISD) August 17, 2021 Officials said local health authorities from Travis and Williamson counties, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend that students, staff, and visitors wear masks at school to mitigate current community spread of COVID-19. While Gov. Greg Abbott's latest executive order prohibits schools from issuing a mask mandate, the district said several school districts across the state have decided to require masks and legally challenge the governor's order. Some of the school districts in the Austin Metro that are requiring a mandate include Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Bastrop ISD, Eanes ISD, Hays CISD, Manor ISD and Austin Community College. St. Edward's University, which is a private university, is also requiring masks. Authorities said when Round Rock ISD required masks throughout last school year, they saw a lower positivity rate inside its schools than in the community at-large. "We understand that this development may affect families' decisions regarding in-person learning," district officials said. "Families who are currently enrolled in the District's virtual learning program and wish to transition back to on-campus learning may do so by contacting their home campus registrar's office." RELATED COVERAGE:Austin ISD Will Keep Mask Mandate In Place Despite Court Ruling Texas Officials Plead With Abbott To Rescind Mask Executive Order Pflugerville ISD Will Require Face Masks As COVID-19 Cases Surge WilCo Precinct 1 Justice Of The Peace Closed Due To COVID-19