Houston Independent School District leaders voted 8-0 on Thursday to approve a mask mandate requiring students, staff, and visitors to wear masks on school property and buses. The mandate will go into effect on Monday.
HISD Board Mask Mandate Vote 8-12-21.mp4 from Houston ISD on Vimeo.
“The safety of our students and staff will continue to be my guiding compass,” Millard House II, Superintendent, said. “I am thankful to our Board of Education for supporting our children and families by prioritizing safety above all else.”
There are 276 schools in Houston, making it the largest district in the state. Masks will be required for everyone regardless of vaccination status.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order in May to ban mask mandates. This week, the governor’s office issued a statement criticizing school districts that went against the Governor’s order.
“Governor Abbott has been clear that the time for mask mandates is over; now is the time for personal responsibility. Parents and guardians have the right to decide whether their child will wear a mask or not, just as with any other decision in their child’s life,” the governor’s press secretary said in an email.
“Governor Abbott has spent his entire time in office fighting for the rights and freedoms of all Texans, and our office continues working with the Office of the Attorney General to do just that. The best defense against this virus is the COVID vaccines, and we continue to strongly encourage all eligible Texans to get vaccinated.”
On Thursday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo also announced a mask order for county schools and child care facilities.
“Pediatric COVID-19 cases are at all-time highs in Texas, and most schools haven’t even started yet. We have no choice,” Hidalgo tweeted.
There has been over a 300% increase in COVID-19 cases in the county from July 25 to Aug. 8, including a 180% increase in hospitalizations.
