ROUND ROCK, Texas — As the legal battles over mask mandates in Texas continue, most students have returned to in-person learning, and several large school districts – including Austin ISD, Dallas ISD and Houston ISD – have mandates in place.
Among them is Round Rock ISD. However, there is a sizeable loophole in the district’s mandate. Students and faculty members who wish to opt out of the mandate may do so.
That could change.
What You Need To Know
- Round Rock ISD has a mask mandate in place but students and staff members have the option to opt out
- That could change as Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez on Monday will propose that loophole be eliminated
- Dr. Azaiez says that as it stands less than 9% of students are choosing not wear masks
- A total of 52 Texas school districts have implemented mask mandates in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive orders prohibiting them
On Monday, Round Rock ISD Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez will recommend to the school board that the opt-out provision be eliminated except in cases concerning health or developmental circumstances.
“I miss seeing the smiling faces of our students and teachers and I can’t wait until we can all put our masks away. But that time is not now. Now, we must take care of each other and protect each other. We must do all we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep our school doors open,” Dr. Azaiez wrote in a news release concerning the proposal.
Dr. Azaiez says that at this point less than 9% of students in the district have chosen to opt out of the mask requirement.
“…the vast majority of students and staff are wearing masks. I have visited more than 20 campuses in the last three days and am encouraged by both the adherence to safety protocols and the excitement and enthusiasm for being back at school,” the superintendent wrote.
Ten counties and cities and 52 school districts or systems around the state have imposed mask mandates in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order banning such measures.
Abbott has argued a law known as the Texas Disaster Act gives him broad power in deciding how best to respond to emergency situations, including whether to ban mask mandates during a pandemic. The counties, cities and school districts say the act does not give Abbott unlimited power.
At least seven lawsuits by cities, counties and school districts have been filed against Abbott. With the Texas Supreme Court not yet having issued a final ruling on the matter, the mask mandates will likely remain in place until such a decision is made, according to legal experts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.