With community members looking on, the Ector County ISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution for a temporary mask requirement but delayed the implementation of it until the legal battles over such requirements are fully settled.
The school district will continue to strongly recommend that students and staff wear masks while inside school buildings but it is not required at this time, under the board’s decision made Thursday night.
Board member Nelson Minyard made the motion, which was seconded by trustee Delma Abalos. Board Vice President Steve Brown was absent and trustee Carol Gregg attended the meeting virtually.
Mike Atkins, the attorney for the school district, said Gov. Greg Abbott has said no mask mandates. That has been challenged by local governments, school boards, cities and lower courts have said the governor doesn’t have that authority.
“So when you’re trying to decide what the rule is, the Supreme Court came in and said this is going to take a while while we work through it,” so the governor’s mandate holds sway, Atkins said.
In remarks to the board, Atkins said it’s important to know that the state Supreme Court has not decided what its position is on who has the authority to deal with this issue. “Is it the state of Texas, or is it locally elected officials of various entities who have that responsibility. That issue has not been resolved, but what the Supreme Court has told us is we’re going to remove this uncertainty while this thing works its way through the courts,” Atkins said.
He added that in his view it would be ill-advised to pass a mandate contrary to that.
Minyard said he personally doesn’t like wearing a mask, but “I feel like it needs to be done.”
If it went into effect, the board recap said stipulations would include all students, staff, and visitors wearing masks while indoors on ECISD property and while riding ECISD buses, must wear face masks covering the nose and mouth.
- Masks are not required while eating, or at other times specifically deemed reasonably appropriate by the campus principal or building administrator related to health and safety.
- Individuals with religious or medical needs/disabilities that prohibit the wearing of masks, upon acceptable verification, are excused from this requirement.
- The superintendent shall review COVID-19 related conditions regularly and is authorized to determine the: duration of the mask requirement, cessation of the requirement based on improved conditions, and/or reinstatement of the mask requirement if lifted.
The roughly 33 people who turned out to voice their opinions were against imposing a temporary mask mandate for students, staff and visitors.
Before the meeting started, Superintendent Scott Muri urged people to let each other speak and not clap, applaud or boo. Those in the audience abided by his request.
Most of those who attended encouraged the board to vote against the resolution.
Dr. Rohith Saravanan, regional chief medical officer at Odessa Regional Medical Center, said he recognized the bravery and courage it took to have this discussion.
Saravanan said there were about 400 deaths in the United States of children under 18 because of this disease process. “One is too many,” he said.
Saravanan said the virus doesn’t affect children as much as adults and children don’t get as sick, but still may need hospitalization.
He said pediatric intensive care units are getting full. He added that they can’t wait until the pandemic is over before they open schools.
“The best tool we have to fight against this disease process is vaccines,” Saravanan said. He encouraged staff and eligible children to get vaccines.
He said masks have worked to prevent respiratory illnesses, as has social distancing, making sure sick people don’t come to school and limiting visitors.
Medical Center Hospital President and CEO Russell Tippin said they had 96 people with COVID in the hospital and 94 percent of them are unvaccinated.
Tippin said the struggle is real, but there are ways around getting sick. He added that seeing your doctor as soon as possible, getting the vaccine and washing your hands are preventative measures.
Tippin said the hospital is seeing more patients this time than during the last surge. The hospital is full and urgent cares are full. But there was a long line for vaccines.
MCH Chief Nursing Officer Christin Timmons described the crisis conditions at the hospital and the low morale among the staff.
Dr. Timothy Benton, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Professor and Interim Regional Dean/ECISD Medical Director, pointed out masks have been a long-used medical tool for infection control, and is an effective means for reducing spread of the virus, the board recap said.
Jasmine Reyna is a single mother of two daughters who go to Buice Elementary School. She also works at a daycare.
“I personally have experienced seeing these children being instilled with fear by us adults and I think that’s sad because normally as a parent or as an adult we want to be able to support those little ones,” Reyna said.
When fear is instilled in children, she said, it causes trauma to the children.
“For me and my faith I stand here for my faith. Since this COVID has hit, I’m covered by the blood of Jesus,” Reyna said.
She said she respects those who wear masks, but like many of those who spoke, she believes in choice and freedom.
Jessica Wright, a mom, aunt and American, said she was there to come out clearly against masks. Wright said freedom should be respected by both sides.
She said she loves seeing children smile, laugh and interact with each other and she loves seeing the light go on for students.
She said she did not want her children feeling restricted.
Daniel Wright, a 10-year-old student at Buice, said wearing a mask he couldn’t tell if his teacher was crying or had a normal face. He added that he didn’t want to wear a mask at school because he got hot when he was out in the sun running. And with masks, his friends couldn’t tell if he was happy or sad and vice-versa.
Jesse Christesson said he is vaccinated, but he doesn’t think it’s right to have a mask mandate. He added that the Texas Supreme Court upheld Abbott’s ban on mask mandates Thursday.
Helen Husband, a retired ECISD teacher, asked the board to approve the resolution. Husband said this is a matter of public health and cases of the Delta variant have exploded across the nation. But students need in person instruction now more than ever. Most students cannot be vaccinated because they are too young, but she said masking is the best tool that will reduce the risk of transmission.
Husband said at least four school districts have already closed their doors because of COVID-19 outbreaks. In all these districts, she said, masking was optional.
Jennifer Woodall said she spoke on behalf of many in attendance. As a parent of a child enrolled in ECISD, Woodall said she was extremely put out by this mandate and it goes against settled science.
Woodall said it has been proven that children are at low risk and don’t spread the virus. She said masks also cause adverse health effects such as excessive carbon dioxide, resulting in difficulty concentrating.
Jaiver Ruiz, president of the local chapter of TSTA, said the administration and board have a responsibility to keep children and staff safe.
He said masks should be a local decision based on local data and use the most current data available.
Misty Trull read Abbott’s executive order, like others who spoke. She said the order relies on personal responsibility; not mandates.
“I would hope this entity would be law abiding as well,” Trull said.
She added that facial expressions are important to children because they need to know they can trust you. Also, a teacher can’t tell if a child is having problems at home if a mask is covering their face.
She said she doesn’t think there is any reason for a mask mandate because of the low numbers of COVID cases in children. Trull said parent should have the freedom to choose if their children wear masks or not.
Elizabeth Velasco said mask mandates are against the law and she would personally notify Paxton of each one of the board member’s names.
Sam Weaks, a senior at ECISD, said he was angry because he has had peers sitting next to him with COVID, but nothing is done.
Every day, Weaks said, he is scared he’s going to get COVID.
