Following the release of updated public health guidance, New Caney ISD will require students and staff to wear face masks for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year, according to a March 9 press release.

The district will keep the face mask mandate in place as well as all other health protocols in place, including contact tracing and quarantine guidelines.

"Student and staff safety are of the utmost importance, and maintaining uninterrupted educational services, including on-campus instruction and extracurricular activities, for our students has been a primary goal during this school year," the press release said.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced an end to the mask mandate at a press conference March 2, and NCISD along with several other local districts said they would wait until the Texas Education Agency updated its recommendations to make a decision. On March 3, the TEA released new health guidelines, leaving the decision of masks in the hands of local school district boards.