DALLAS — Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation for mask wearing of students, the Dallas Independent School District plans to lift its mask mandate beginning Feb. 28. Starting Monday, anyone on Dallas ISD property will have the option of wearing face coverings. Superintendent Michael Hinojosa made the announcement during the school board’s monthly meeting on Feb. 17.

“We initially were going to wait until Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but we couldn’t do it because the data didn’t allow us to do what I’m announcing today,” Hinojosa said. “We’re going to continue to look at the data and we’ll send out a formal announcement next week. But, our plan is as of Feb. 28, which is a week from Monday, we will make masks recommended.”

The district’s current mask mandate has been in effect since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. The requirements resulted in pushback from state and local leaders as it defied Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order on banning mask mandates across the state last summer. According to Hinojosa, the district had “single digits of students and staff members infected” with the virus on Wednesday.

“We want to thank everyone for their outstanding cooperation during this time,” Hinojosa said. “If the data turns around and tells us that we need to go back to a protocol that requires us to wear masks we will not hesitate to do that. But, I do want to thank all the staff and students for their compliance.”

According to its website, the CDC “recommends universal indoor masking by all students (ages 2 years and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.” Following his announcement, multiple board members raised questions while others like Trustee Dustin Marshall, of district 2, commended Hinojosa for making the change.

“I just want to thank you Dr. Hinojosa for making that decision,” Marshall said. “I think it’s a time for us to get back to as much normality as we can, and I think we’ve been prudent and thoughtful about protecting our students and our staff member’s health. But, I think it’s time. So, thank you.”

In light of the news, Trustee Karla Garcia, of district 4, asked if any other COVID-19 protocols would change. Hinojosa responded by saying before the formal announcement of the end of the mask mandate, there would be a final review of current measures in place. He mentioned that wiping of desks was something the district already did away with since the novel coronavirus was an airborne disease.

“We will continue to look at every protocol and see if we need to make other adjustments,” he said.

On Thursday, Dallas County had a total of 383 new positive coronavirus cases and nine reported deaths.

“Our numbers continue to decline, but are still high compared to where they were pre-Omicron,” wrote Jenkins on Twitter. “We remain at the red threat level. The public health committee meets tomorrow and should there be a change in that I will get the information out to you as soon as possible.”

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who has always been an advocate of the vaccine and wearing masks, continues to encourage residents to stay vigilant when it comes to the virus that to-date has claimed the lives of at least 900,000 people in the United States.

“…Keep doing the things you need to do to stay safe: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear your mask indoors when outside your own home, and keep a good distance from others,” he wrote.