Comal ISD Gives Parents, Guardians the Say-So on Masks
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Starting Wednesday, March 10, Comal ISD students and staff are no longer required to wear masks to school.
Board of Trustees President David Drastata said the board amended its health-and-safety guidelines to allow parents and teachers to decide whether to wear face coverings.
Quarantine protocols remain in effect.
“As such, we strongly recommend the continued use of face coverings to protect our teachers and staff, and your child’s opportunity to participate in spring sports, fine arts, prom, and potentially graduation,” he said in a statement issued today.
Parents who send their students wearing masks “are doing your part to keep our schools open for the next 10 weeks and provide our students the educational opportunities they deserve,” Drastata said.
He credited the district’s campus safety protocols for keeping campuses open, citing daily health screening, social distancing and face coverings.
New Braunfels ISD students must continue wearing masks, trustees decided at their Monday meeting.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbot rescinded the state’s mask mandate, also effective Wednesday. But the Texas Education Agency decided to leave mask-wearing up to individual school districts.
Drastata said students and staff who are properly masked will not be considered a “close contact” with lab-confirmed, positive cases and will not be required to quarantine. Face shields and neck gaiters do not eliminate anyone from consideration as a close contact.
Canyon High School Band Director Steve Vaden said face coverings will still be required in the band hall.
“With the rules of quarantine still in effect, students not wearing masks would be subject to quarantining if another student tests positive for COVID,” he said. “With UIL (University Interscholastic League) in a few weeks we want to make sure that does not happen.”
On March 16, 2020, Comal ISD closed all of its schools and went 100-percent remote learning.
