Spring ISD to implement district-wide mask mandate beginning Aug. 16

Spring ISD Superintendent Rodney Watson at an Aug. 10 school board meeting said that all students and staff will be required to wear masks on district property beginning Aug. 16.

The district's decision to require masks is coming in defiance of an order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott banning local entities from enacting mask mandates. Entities that establish such mandates are subject to a fine of up to $1,000, though the order does not specify how the penalty would be applied to school districts.

Watson said the decision to require masks was made after taking in feedback from local community members.

“Over the past week, I’ve received emails and phone calls, as well as in-person feedback from a variety of our constituents, regarding the health and safety of our students and staff,” Watson said. “Starting Monday, Aug. 16, we will be mandating masks for all students and staff inside any SISD facility.”

Additionally, Watson said the district will continue the contact tracing protocols implemented in the 2019-20 school year and will communicate any positive COVID-19 cases to parents and staff. Watson noted the district will also update its online COVID tracker each night, allowing parents to view the number of positive cases in the district and on each individual campus.

“We know that it’s important for our families to have a clear understanding of COVID in our district, and we think resuming contact tracing and general notifications will give our community a transparent look at what’s happening in Spring ISD,” Watson said.

Parents and community members interested in viewing SISD’s COVID tracker can access it online at www.springisd.org/covidtracker.