Austin ISD has released an updated statement, and said that the district will continue to require masks.
"As you may be aware, this afternoon Governor Greg Abbott announced an order to lift the statewide mask mandate. We want to let you know that Austin ISD will continue to require all students, staff, and visitors to wear masks on district property and at district events," the district said in the statement released on March 2. "Our decisions have been and will continue to be based on guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. We appreciate everyone's efforts to keep safe by wearing masks, maintaining social distancing when possible, and washing hands frequently."
Dripping Springs ISD also provided an update in the evening on March 2.
"Our district remains committed to protocols we have in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and to keeping our schools open during this pandemic. At this time, we will continue our current safety protocols including the required use of face masks at Dripping Springs ISD campuses and facilities," the district said in a statement.
Original post: March 2, 5:34 p.m.
Central Texas school districts are still sorting out the latest executive order announced by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, which, once in effect on March 10, will no longer require Texas residents to wear masks or face coverings when indoors and in most public spaces.
According to current Texas Education Agency guidelines, which have not been updated since Abbott’s March 2 announcement, Texas schools are required to comply with the governor’s executive order regarding the wearing of masks. When the TEA guideline was written, Abbott’s active executive order included requirements for residents to cover their faces if they were traveling through indoor spaces open to the public or outdoor areas where they could not maintain 6 feet of distance.
TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement that the commission will be updating TEA guidance later this week and it will "allow for some degree of continuation of what we had before." The statement was made during the Montgomery County Day at the Capitol event in Conroe on March 2.
“Governor Abbott’s Executive Order (GA-34) takes effect next Wed., March 10, 2021. Updated public health guidance from TEA will be coming this week,” TEA said in an official statement later in the day.
Austin ISD will continue to require students and staff on its campuses to wear masks and is waiting for TEA to clarify its requirements.
“We are aware of the Governor's order and we are awaiting guidance from TEA,” Austin ISD said in a district statement March 2. “Until we receive that guidance, we will continue to adhere to our current safety protocols. We will send updates as quickly as decisions are made.”
Leander ISD also released a statement, and said it will keep its mask mandate in place.
“Leander ISD will continue to prioritize student, staff and community health by following the guidance of our state and local health agencies as outlined in our current COVID-19 protocols. We will still enforce our existing mask protocols and social distancing requirements," the LISD statement reads. "As we work to slow community spread of COVID-19 and minimize the health risks of in-person learning, we will work with health departments and the Texas Education Agency regarding health and safety in our schools. We will adjust when it is safe and appropriate to do so.”
Pflugerville ISD Superintendent Douglas Killian said in a statement March 2 the district will not be adjusting its mask requirements. He said mask wearing is a central safety precaution advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as Austin Public Health. Mask requirements in Round Rock ISD will also remain in place, according to the district.
In Georgetown ISD, Superintendent Fred Brent said that district safety protocols remain unchanged for now, and masks are still required for all staff, students and visitors to district facilities.
"I know we are making progress in the fight against COVID-19, but I also know that it is not fully behind us," he said. "The safety protocols we put into practice last summer allowed us to open doors and provide the choice for students to learn safely in a traditional school environment."
Other districts, including Eanes and Dripping Springs ISDs, and San Marcos CISD are waiting for further information from TEA and are internally discussing how, if at all, mask mandates may change at their schools.
Hutto ISD officials said that until further guidance is made available and analyzed, the district will continue with current safety measures in place. Similarly, Lake Travis ISD said in a statement that it will not be making any changes to its policy at this time as it waits for TEA guidance.
"We are not making any immediate changes. In the meantime, we will seek state and local guidance on this matter and will begin to assess the potential impact to our District and school operations," LTISD said in the statement.
