Masks in schools: Here's what South Texas school districts, universities require now
John OlivaPublic schools in Texas can continue current practices on face masks and have the authority to set local mask policies, according to the Texas Education Agency.
The TEA's statement on Wednesday announcing the updated public health guidance was in response to Gov. Greg Abbott's new executive order lifting the mask mandate in the state.
Under the updated guidelines, a school district's current practices can remains unchanged and school boards have the authority to determine a local mask policy.
"While it is not possible to eliminate all risk of furthering the spread of COVID-19, the current science suggests there are many steps schools can take to reduce the risks to students, teachers, staff, and 2 their families significantly," the statement said. "This guidance document contains information on four sets of practices that minimize the likelihood of viral spread, including some that are requirements for all schools and others that are recommendations."
A link to TEA's Public Health Guidance was provided in its statement.
The recommendations state school districts should provide notices to parents and the public regarding on-campus activities and plans for how the district will battle COVID-19; require practices to prevent the virus from entering the school with screening questions for possible positive cases and quarantining; respond to local health departments, faculty members, students and parents if a positive COVID-19 individual was in the school; and mitigate the likelihood of COVID-19 spreading in the school by practicing safe health and hygiene procedures.
On Wednesday, the TEA also announced the Texas Department of State Health Services decided that all educators and school support staff are eligible to be vaccinated effective immediately.
Del Mar College, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Coastal Bend College are continuing to practice social distancing and requiring face masks on all campuses and facilities.
Below are all school districts continuing to follow safe health practices while they wait for the TEA to provide further information:
REQUIRING FACE MASKS
- Agua Dulce ISD
- Alice ISD
- Aransas County ISD
- Aransas Pass ISD
- Banquete ISD
- Beeville ISD
- Ben Bolt - Palito Blanco ISD
- Benavides ISD
- Bishop CISD
- Corpus Christi ISD
- Driscoll ISD
- Flour Bluff ISD
- Freer ISD
- Dr. M.L. Garza-Gonzalez Charter School
- George West ISD
- Gregory Portland ISD
- Kenedy County Wide CSD
- Kingsville ISD
- La Gloria ISD
- London ISD
- Mathis ISD
- McMullen County ISD
- Odem-Edroy ISD
- Orange Grove ISD
- Pawnee ISD
- Pettus ISD
- Port Aransas ISD
- Premont ISD
- Ramirez CSD
- Ricardo ISD
- Richard Milburn Academy
- Riviera ISD
- Robstown ISD
- San Diego ISD
- Santa Gertrudis ISD
- Seashore Learning Centers
- Sinton ISD
- Skidmore-Tynan ISD
- St. Mary's Academy
- Taft ISD
- Three Rivers ISD
- Tuloso-Midway ISD
- West Oso ISD
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