Masks are still strongly encouraged, Killian said, echoing a statement he issued earlier this week, but despite an Aug. 11 Travis County order mandating mask wearing, the district will not open itself up to potential legal trouble by defying an executive order prohibiting mask mandates that Gov. Greg Abbott issued in May.
"This decision is not because I don’t believe masks will make a difference. I think they will, and I have advocated for the use since day one and continue to do so," Killian said in the Aug. 11 statement. "I know we have many parents and staff members who want us to defy the governor’s orders, but we also have many demanding that we comply with the governor’s orders."
Killian said if the district defies the governor's order, it could backfire and increase the number of people not wearing masks in protest.
The district is focused on combatting the COVID-19 pandemic by strongly encouraging mask wearing throughout all of its campuses and facilities, and safety measures including self-screening, social distancing and increased hand sanitizing stations are being ramped up for the new school year, he said.
"I do not want our students or staff members to be used as political pawns in the game between our local and state officials," Killian said. "We are working with our legal advisors and watching the court system and the legality of mask requirements."
The decision differs from larger districts, including Austin, Fort Worth and Dallas ISDs, that recently decided to defy Abbott's order and require mask wearing at all of their campuses and facilities.
"I am sorry that we are focusing on this issue in the 11th hour, the night before the first day of school when our students and staff should be excited and looking forward to seeing friends and meeting their teachers," Killian said. "Although this is not how we had hoped to start the school year, I know that we will get through this together."
