Burnet Consolidated Independent School District students will still be required to wear face coverings at school, at least until the school board meets to decide how the remainder of the school year will be handled.
The Board of Trustees called a special meeting for March 23 at 6 p.m. to hear from community members and consider options in relation to the governor lifting the state-wide mask mandate.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-34 that eliminated restrictions on businesses and the mask mandate beginning today, March 10, and the Texas Education Agency changed protocols to allow local school boards to make decisions for their own schools.
However, changes made to safety policy must be board approved, not administratively executed.
McBurnett said school officials met with the Burnet County Health Authority, Dr. Juliette Madrigal, on Friday, March 5. Madrigal recommended the district continues the protocols that have been implemented since the beginning of the school year.
“It is our belief that these protocols have reduced the number of COVID cases and the number of required quarantines due to close-contact,” McBurnett said in the statement.
Until the special meeting, virus prevention protocol, including face coverings, “social distancing” and periodic hand washing will remain in effect.
“Tomorrow, just as in past weeks, should a student in grades 3-12 arrive at school without a face covering, BCISD will provide one and request that it be worn,” McBurnett said in a second statement sent on Tuesday. “If students do not abide by those procedures, we will contact parents and require that students engage in remote learning from home.
