FORT WORTH, Texas — Shifting gears from a previous decision, Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Kent P. Scribner on Tuesday during a special girl board meeting announced a mask mandate for all students, employees and visitors.
The mandate goes into effect immediately for all indoor instruction and activities.
Fort Worth ISD is the latest school district to ignore Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order banning state-funded entities from implementing mask mandates. The district is scheduled to reopen to 100% in-person instruction on Monday, August 16.
The school district also said masks will also be required at all district-related indoor activities and on all school buses.
Additionally, FWISD said it will perform contact tracing and notification of COVID cases as appropriate.
The district’s released its COVID-19 safety protocols on Monday and initially said it will “strongly encourage” mask-wearing, conduct contact tracing and require teachers and students to quarantine after coming in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. The protocols went beyond state guidance released last week, but they stopped short of requiring masks on campus.
Dallas ISD Monday announced plans to implement its own mask mandate. Houston ISD and Austin ISD have similar mandates as in place.