HISD removes masking mandate, but some parents think it should be maintained

It was a move that the president of Houston Teachers Federation see coming.

“We expect that because the CDC has relaxed guidance around mask requirements,” said Jackie Anderson. “We always ask us to follow the science.”

HISD Superintendent Millard House II cited science and the reduction in COVID-19 numbers as reasons why the district removed the authority. HISD COVID-19 Dashboard shows that there are currently 169 active cases among students and staff in the district.

This year’s peak was 502 cases reported on January 4.

“The virus is still circulating in our community, but we have all the tools we didn’t have a few months ago,” House said.

Students and staff will still receive tests, masks and COVID information from their schools, but some Lamar High School parents say it’s too early to make a mask option.

“(HISD) should hold (on duty) a little longer,” said parent Cat Dominguez. “Many students tend to be careless sometimes, and that puts students at risk.”

House said the district will continue to monitor the numbers and fix for a reversal if the numbers spike.

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