TEXAS — Despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s mask mandate ban, school districts across the state of Texas are requiring masks to be worn by faculty, students and guests while on campus.

The most recent districts to join the list of schools defying the ban are Del Valle ISD and San Marcos CISD.

On Thursday in a unanimous vote, Del Valle ISD Board of Trustees approved of a resolution for all students, staff and visitors to wear masks when on DVISD property. This goes into effect Friday, Aug. 13.

According to media reports, in a 6-1 vote, San Marcos CISD is also requiring students and faculty to be masked up while on district facilities and buses. Schools in the district start Aug. 23.

These two school districts join Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Spring and other ISDs in requiring masks to be worn on school property.

On Friday, Hidalgo County put a mask mandate in place for area schools. According to Hidalgo Country Judge Richard F. Cortez, school boards may choose to opt out, however. 

Gov. Abbott this week said that any school district or government official in violation of his executive orders banning mask mandates will be met with a court challenge.

“Any school district, public university, or local government official that decides to defy GA-38—which prohibits gov't entities from mandating masks—will be taken to court,” Gov. Abbott wrote. “The path forward relies on personal responsibility—not government mandates.”