Carroll ISD’s COVID-19 safety protocols will remain in place at least until the end of the month.
After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ended the mask mandate and reopened Texas by 100% last week, the Texas Education Agency updated its public health guidelines stating that school boards have the full authority to decide their mask policy. The current district policy requires students over nine, teachers and staff to wear masks while inside Carroll ISD buildings, according to its website.
The board of trustees received recommendations from the Tarrant County Public Health Department, as well as a presentation of survey data from the district's COVID-19 response team. According to the presentation, 689-713 employees felt Carroll ISD should keep the current mask requirement for students, staff and adults visiting campuses. About 272 employees have already received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 360 are still waiting for their appointment. Around 164 employees said they would not receive the vaccine for one reason or another.
The board ultimately decided not to change any of its health and safety protocols at this time.
“Our goal is to move out of this situation,” CISD Superintendent Dr. Lane Ledbetter says. "We look forward to the day when our kids can walk down the hallways and we can see their smiles and faces and we are back to where we were. We just don’t feel like that would be the prudent decision at this point based on the information we have.”
The CISD COVID-19 response team will meet up again on Thursday, April 1 to reevaluate the district’s current safety protocols. The next board meetings will be on March 29 and April 5.
To review the district’s full COVID-19 response, go to CISD’s #SAFEdragon page at SouthlakeCarroll.edu.