San Antonio Standard

San Antonio Standard recently reached out to Mariana Veraza, public information officer of Harlandale Independent School District (ISD) to inquire if the school district would stop requiring masks in accordance with the governor's latest executive order.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently issued an executive order prohibiting Texas schools from requiring students, staff and faculty to wear masks after Friday, June 4.

"We will no longer require masks after June 4, 2021," Veraza told San Antonio Standard when asked if the school district would comply with the governor's new executive order.

The governor's decision was likely influenced by a recent announcement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declaring that fully Americans could participate in most activities without a mask and plunging rates of COVID rates across the state. Texas recently reported zero COVID-related deaths for the first time in more than a year, according to ABC 13 News.

Despite the numbers, Veraza said that Harlandale ISD would continue to be diligent and exercise safe practices for the remainder of the current school year.

"For the reminder of the school year 20-21, we will continue to ask our students, parents and staff to do self-evaluations and to please stay home if they feel ill," Veraza told San Antonio Standard. "Our classrooms, schools and offices will continue to be constantly disinfected. Sanitizers will continue to be available for students and staff to use. Acrylic shields will still be in place on student and teacher desks. We will continue to have COVID-19 tests available for those who wish to get tested for the reminder of the school year and through summer school."

Veraza added that the school district will wait on guidance from the Texas Education Agency before determining any guidelines for the new upcoming school year beginning next fall.

Abbott's very first mask mandate order was peculiar and round-a-bout. According to Texas Monthly, he began by prohibiting counties from mandating masks, but then hinted that there was a loophole for counties to skirt his order. Counties ended up doing just that and mandated businesses to require masks. 

Abbott eventually instituted a mask mandate in July 2020, requiring virtually all Texans to wear a mask in public spaces.

In March, Abbott lifted the statewide mask mandate and nominally prevented local governments from instituting their own mandates. However, several municipalities ignored him and stuck by their mandates.

Abbott's actions have often been contrasted with those of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The latter rescinded all meaningful COVID restrictions, including mask requirements in the fall. DeSantis did technically allow localities to mandate masks, but he neutered their ability to enforce any orders, NPR reported. 

A recent order from DeSantis conflicts with Abbott's approach. The Florida governor was the first to ban local government from mandating masks, beating his Texas counterpart by over two weeks. However, DeSantis' order did not apply to public schools, whereas the Texas governor's order explicitly did, according to Tampa Bay Times.