El Paso Mayor, County Judge urge Gov. Abbot to allow schools to decide mask requirements
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso's Mayor Oscar Leeser and County Judge Ricardo Samaniego sent a letter to Governor Abbott about mask requirements in schools.
Leeser and Samaniego asked the governor to allow local school districts to decide facemask requirements based on local needs, a news release from the Mayor stated.
In May, Abbott announced that public schools can no longer require masks on their campuses starting June 5. The decision was part of a new executive order that bans government entities in Texas — like cities and counties — from mandating masks in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
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In the letter, Leeser and Samaniego wrote El Paso schools just began in-person learning and that "the CDC has placed schools as areas of high risk of COVID-19 transmission, and recommends that everyone in K to 12 schools wear masks indoors regardless of their vaccination status."
"The feedback we have received from educators overwhelmingly supports local discretionary authority for facemask requirements, especially since our young children cannot receive the vaccine," the letter stated.
Read the full letter below:
The letter ended with another push for discretionary authority over facemasks in schools.
"This is an urgent need and an urgent request for an unprotected, helpless, exposed and unguarded population. And the ones it is our responsibility to protect the most, our children," the letter stated.
The Governor has not issued a response at this time. Check back for updates.
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