By Sahar Chmais
A bipartisan bill that would give school districts the option to mandate masks is in the works, after discussion by members of the Committee on Public Education.
State Representative Jeff Leech (R) introduced House Bill 141, which would prohibit the mandate of masks in school, and State Representative Harold Dutton (D) introduced House Bill 164 that would mandate masks in school. On Aug. 30, the two representatives agreed to work together on a new bill that might make room for some compromise.
During the meeting, the two representatives agreed to work on a bill which would allow school districts to make decisions about mask mandates, while giving parents a choice to opt-out of the requirement.
Parents, public servants and doctors from across Texas testified in front of the committee, presenting for both sides of the argument.
Lacy Waller, Hays CISD parent of two boys, said her nine- and seven-year-old children are too young to be vaccinated.
“We’re at the most dangerous point of the pandemic for children and the state has stripped aways the most critical tool to keep students healthy,” Waller told committee members. “Our local leaders must be able to use the most effective tool to keep kids from getting sick.”
Kids are not benefitting from in-person school when entire classrooms are in quarantine and teachers are out sick, Waller added.
Unlike Austin ISD, Hays CISD will not defy the governor’s orders and mandate masks, but the district has been encouraging students and staff to wear them on campus. On Monday Aug. 30, the district had a meeting where some parents asked the board to mandate masks in school.
Board President Vanessa Petrea and Secretary Merideth Keller were outspoken about wanting a mask mandate in school. But the board members said they would only call a special emergency meeting regarding masks if they had legal cover and if the cases continued to rise.
Superintendent Eric Wright published a letter to parents urging everyone to wear masks.
“I need you to wear masks,” the letter reads. “Given that our COVID-positive case numbers are as high this week as the highest week of the entire last school year, I need you to wear a mask… We don’t currently have legal authority or practical ability to require masks, but we are closely watching the courts and legislature.”
Wright added that legislators appear to be close to the agreement bill that is being drafted by Leech and Dutton.
By the second week of school, Hays CISD had 134 active COVID-19 cases; the district’s numbers are reported on a weekly basis. Wright said Hays CISD will switch to daily COVID-19 updates, but gave no implementation timeline.
Additionally, the district had to close several classrooms due to the spread of the virus.
