Magnolia ISD trustees to vote on lifting mask mandate, effective April 1

The Magnolia ISD board of trustees is expected to vote March 8 on a resolution to exempt students and staff from the Texas Education Agency's mask requirement amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to meeting information.

If approved, the mask order would be lifted April 1 but all MISD staff and students would be required to wear face coverings until that date, according to the resolution.

"This delay will allow teachers sufficient time to receive a vaccine if they so choose now that [the] vaccine is available in Texas to teachers as a group," the resolution states.

Since mid-November, MISD has required all students to wear a face covering, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. Since the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, secondary students have been required to wear a face covering.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced March 2 that Texans will no longer be required by state law to wear a mask, and all businesses will be allowed to operate at full capacity as of March 10. In response, the TEA released updated public health guidance March 3, stating that TEA officials are leaving mask policies up to individual school boards, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced March 3 that Texas educators and child care workers are now eligible to receive coronavirus vaccines.