Masks are now optional for Dragons while participating in outdoor activities.
During the CISD board of trustee’s meeting on Monday, April 5, the COVID-19 response team presented the findings to its recent survey on maintaining mask requirements on its campuses. According to the parent survey results, 55.2% of respondents stated they wanted the current mask requirement to be maintained, while 34.3% indicated they would like the policy to be changed. Staff survey results show 59.4% were in favor of maintaining the current mask requirement, while 31.7% were in support of changing it.
The response team recommended that the district maintain its current mask policy for indoors but change the policy to make masks optional for outdoor activities, provided that social distancing or movement is occurring. Lead nurse Karen Flexer says the team felt content with this compromise because the risk for contracting COVID-19 is lower outdoors.
“We have worked both sides, I feel like, to try and keep everyone in a good spot,” Karen says to the board. “If we can give now for the last eight to nine weeks, I feel like we’re ready to do that. I’m ready to move toward what we’re going to see in the fall.”
The board unanimously approved the change. Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Janet McDade says the response team will meet again on Thursday, May 6 to consider other potential changes the district may make before the summer.