DALLAS — Despite the executive orders barring them, Dallas ISD is enacting a mask mandate for the time being, the district announced Monday morning. 

What You Need To Know

  • Starting Tuesday, Dallas ISD will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks on district property

  • Dallas is part of a region of the U.S. identified by the CDC as an area of high COVID-19 transmission 

  • School districts are not permitted to enact mask mandates per executive orders issued by Gov. Greg Abbott

  • Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said he would rather pay a fine than risk the health of his students 

The temporary policy goes into effect Tuesday and requires students, staff and visitors to wear masks on district property.

According to a new release from the district, “Governor Abbott’s order does not limit the district’s rights as an employer and educational institution to establish reasonable and necessary safety rules for its staff and students. Dallas ISD remains committed to the safety of our students and staff.”

Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year banned agencies that receive state dollars from implementing mask mandates, and more recently he issued a second, solidifying executive order banning mask and vaccine mandates.

Dallas County is currently in the red stage of risk-based COVID-19 guidance. North Texas has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an area of high COVID-19 transmission.

Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa during a news briefing Monday morning said he has received “mixed emails” from parents on the subject of requiring masks. He also said he’d rather pay a fine or penalty for breaking the executive order than put his students at risk.

The district has not determined disciplinary action for violating the mask mandate.

As it stands, Dallas ISD is not offering any virtual learning opportunities for students.

Houston ISD, the largest school district in Texas, is this week slated to vote on a similar mask mandate.