Round Rock ISD Will Make Masks Optional Starting June 2

ROUND ROCK, TX — Round Rock ISD will make face masks optional for all school district activities and facilities starting June 2.

School officials told Patch Tuesday afternoon the district's decision to make masks optional was decided after the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention announced fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks indoors or outdoors in any setting on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Abbott issued an Executive Order prohibiting governmental entities in Texas — including counties, cities, school districts, public health authorities, or government officials — from requiring or mandating mask wearing.

Public schools are allowed to continue to follow current mask-wearing guidelines through June 4. After June 4, no student, teacher, parent, or other staff member or visitor can be required to wear a mask while on campus, the order states.

Round Rock ISD officials said the governor's executive order on Tuesday to ban schools from enforcing a mask mandate will not affect its school district.

Authorities said the district’s current mask requirement and COVID-19 safety protocols will remain in place until then.

Current protocols require that students, staff members, and visitors wear masks on buses, other district vehicles, inside school buildings, and anywhere on school grounds. This requirement includes during District events that take place throughout and outside of school hours.

The only exception is that students have the option to remove their masks during outdoor activities, such as P.E. class and recess, providing they can appropriately social distance from others.

In response to all Round Rock ISD staff members having the opportunity to be vaccinated, and children 12 and older are now eligible for vaccinations, the district said it is planning for a return to face-to-face learning and in-person activities in the 2021-2022 school year.

" We are encouraged by the news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that those who have been fully vaccinated can resume activities without wearing a mask in most circumstances," officials said Thursday. "However, we are keeping current mask protocols in place until the end of the Spring semester, understanding that elementary-age students are not yet eligible for the vaccine and students 12 and older only recently became eligible. We will continue to work closely with our local health departments to keep our community safe and healthy."

Officials said the district is working on scheduling on-site vaccination clinics for individuals 12 and older and will provide details on these opportunities as soon as they are available.