While previously only strongly encouraged by PfISD, district officials on Aug. 15 made the decision to mandate mask wearing following reports from Aug. 13 that 345th District Court Judge Jan Soifer granted a temporary restraining order to block Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order prohibiting mask mandates in school for students and educators.
"At this time, in anticipation of the Court Order, this new action means masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors when attending Pflugerville ISD, in accordance with the current Travis County mask order," said Superintendent Doug Killian in an Aug. 15 statement. "Pflugerville ISD must abide by this latest court mandate."
The decision comes on the same day the Texas Supreme Court granted stay orders against mask mandates approved by lower courts last week in Dallas and Bexar counties.
In his statement, Killian acknowledged the issue is in many stages of litigation throughout the state and said he believes the matter will be settled in the courts.
No matter what happens, Killian said, it has always been the intent of PfISD to follow the prevailing law.
"We will do what we need to do to keep children and staff as safe as possible, but we must do it in a way that respects the ultimate decisions made under the law," Killian said. "We cannot have chaos and blatant defiance. That serves no one – especially our children. Sadly, the issue of masks is fully entrenched in adult politics. Along with your locally elected school board, I will continue to keep the well-being of your children and our students as the focus."
Even if the most recent district court decision is again reversed, Killian said the district will continue strongly recommending masks, contact tracing and notifying parents and staff of positive cases.
The PfISD Board of Trustees is holding a special meeting Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. to discuss COVID-19 safety protocols and legal matters pertaining to them.
