Citing decreasing COVID-19 figures, the Austin Independent School District (AISD) will leave the decision whether to wear a mask up to faculty, staff and students.
The new policy, which AISD said is aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines, is slated to go into effect on March 7.
Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde said AISD trustees met with Dr. Desmar Walkes, the City of Austin's medical director/health authority, during the closed session of the most recent school board meeting, Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported.
“Our COVID-19 numbers have significantly decreased to a level that today are only measurable to the thousandth, t-h, of a percent," Elizalde said, according to the station. "To be exact, .007%, for this past week.”
Elizalde advised that while the coast may be clear for now, the COVID-19 pandemic is still fluid to where a mask rule may be implemented again.
KXAN reported that the school district conducted a survey on masks in schools that drew over 19,000 participants.
A question that read, “If you knew that Austin ISD would continue testing protocols and require students and staff testing positively to quarantine, would you feel more confident about making masks optional if numbers continue to decline?” yielded a split among the respondents, with 48% answering "yes" and 45% replying "no."
Seven percent were unsure.
The CDC's new formula deemed Travis County a "low-impact county," prompting Austin Public Health to lower its risk-based guidelines to Stage 3, Austin NPR affiliate KUT reported.
AISD has implemented a mask mandate of its own since the fall of 2020.