ROUND ROCK, Texas— The battle over mask mandates between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and numerous state governments continues, which each side claiming some victories. Meanwhile, a Williamson Country school district is the latest to defy the governor’s executive orders banning those mandates.

Round Rock ISD has announced it will temporarily require masks to be worn at all of its schools and facilities beginning Wednesday, Aug. 18.

While this requirement expires Sept. 17, the Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees can vote to extend it at its monthly meeting on Sept. 16 if conditions warrant.

The new mask protocol asks that students, staff and visitors wear masks on buses and inside school buildings. Staff and students are permitted to remove their masks while seated in cafeterias or while outdoors.

This requirement does not apply during athletics, physical education and fine arts unless deemed necessary by coaches and teachers.

“My ultimate responsibility is the health and welfare of our students. We must look at the science, listen to the experts, and do what is right to protect them. As several other superintendents who have made the decision to require masks have said, if we’re going to err, I want to err on the side of caution,” Round Rock Superintendent of Schools Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said. “As the public health climate continues to rapidly change, we must be willing to adapt and make decisions to protect our community as we know that masks are an essential tool in reducing the spread of COVID-19.”

If parents wish to opt their student out of the requirement, they can fill out a form that will be provided on the district website by the end of Tuesday, Aug. 17.

Round Rock ISD says it will reassess conditions frequently and adjust accordingly.

Round Rock ISD joins numerous school districts including Austin ISD, Houston ISD and Dallas ISD in mandating mask usage on campus.