TEXAS — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton last week tweeted that he would see school districts with mask mandates in place “in court,” and on Friday he followed through on the threat.

What You Need To Know

  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton last week tweeted "see you in court" to school districts with mask mandates in place 

  • On Friday, Paxton filed suit against six districts identified as not in compliance with Gov. Greg Abbott's order forbidding masks mandates 

  • Dozens of Texas schools have had to suspend in-person learning as cases of COVID-19 have dramatically ticked up

  • There are currently 272 pediatric patients hospitalized with the virus in Texas 

In all, Paxton has filed lawsuits against six Texas school districts. They are:

  • Richardson ISD
  • Round Rock ISD
  • Galveston ISD
  • Elgin ISD
  • Spring ISD
  • Sherman ISD

Notably not on the list is Fort Worth ISD, which last week voted to put a mask mandate in place starting on Monday, Sept. 13.

“Not only are superintendents across Texas openly violating state law, but they are using district resources—that ought to be used for teacher merit raises or other educational benefits—to defend their unlawful political maneuvering,” Paxton wrote in a news release announcing the lawsuits. “If districts choose to spend their money on legal fees, they must do so knowing that my office is ready and willing to litigate these cases. I have full confidence that the courts will side with the law – not acts of political defiance.”  

Paxton’s news release announcing the lawsuits includes a list of school districts identified as not being in compliance with Gov. Greg Abbott’s order forbidding mask mandates as well as districts that were previously noncompliant but have since come into compliance.

Dozens of Texas schools in recent weeks have had to suspend in-person learning because cases of COVID-19 have caused numerous staff and student absences. Districts have struggled to find enough substitute teachers.

The Texas Department of State Health Services on Sunday reported there are 272 pediatric COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the state and just 72 available staffed pediatric ICU beds statewide.