Southside ISD will continue with masks, social distancing, and all of the safety protocols that we have in place. Nothing has changed for our school district. On March 2, Gov. Greb Abbott announced lifting the mask mandate in Texas in an Executive Order A-34 which addresses the statewide wearing of face coverings (i.e., masks) and takes effect March 10, 2021. TEA’s authority to implement operational requirements for public schools remains in effect (e.g., TEA’s Public Health Guidance).
As a result of the lifting of the order on masks, TEA has updated its Public Health Guidance. Under this updated guidance, a public school system’s current practices on masks may continue unchanged. Local school boards have full authority to determine their local mask policy.
Superintendent Rolando Ramirez says “we will continue with masks, social distancing, and all of the safety protocols that we have in place. Nothing has changed for our school district.”