Despite Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates, the Lockhart Independent School District issued such a mandate amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The Board of Trustees voted 5-2 to require all students, staff, visitors, and parents to wear masks in schools and on buses. The mandate became effective immediately. “Documented medical conditions,” disability, and a student’s age will be the only reasons accepted for an exemption to the requirement.
The district, located south of Austin, has 204 active cases, Superintendent Mark Estrada said in a statement on Saturday. Nearly 800 students are currently in quarantine, and overall, about 13 percent of the school district’s 6,100 students have been quarantined.
“The district has already closed four classes and a student program due to having 20% or more students diagnosed with COVID-19,” Estrada said.” Students in those classes will be learning virtually from home while they quarantine for 10 days.”
He expects more class closures in the coming weeks. Campus-wide shutdowns could happen if 10 percent of students test positive for the virus. If a campus is closed, students will transition to online learning.
KXAN reports that Lockhart High School has the highest coronavirus cases in the district, with 69. Lockhart Junior High is not far behind, with 59 cases.
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