On August 13, Clear Creek ISD issued a statement declaring that the district will "continue to comply with Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order which prohibits a school district from mandating face coverings be worn indoors." This decision is unsafe for all staff and students, especially those who are not able to get vaccinated. Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the area, concerns regarding the Delta variant, increasingly limited hospital capacity, and recent actions taken by Harris County against Governor Abbott's executive order GA-38, we demand that Clear Creek ISD issue a mask mandate and fulfill their promise, as stated in their strategic plan from 2020 to 2025, to "focus decisions on what is best for students" and "base decisions on facts and data."

As of August 13th, some of the largest school districts in Texas, including Houston ISD, Dallas ISD, Austin ISD, and San Antonio ISD, have issued mask mandates in defiance of Governor Greg Abbott. Although the governor took some of these districts to court, the judge ultimately ruled in favor of the districts and allowed them to make masks mandatory. Clearly, CCISD is not obliged to comply with the executive order. The district must follow the lead of others and do what is best for their students and staff.

Further, Travis County District Court judge granted Harris County’s request for an order preventing the state from enforcing Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest executive order regarding mask mandates. This restraining order allows local school districts within Harris County, including Clear Creek ISD, to enact masking requirements for students and employees. Therefore, CCISD has no obligation to follow order GA-38.

The rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Houston Area and Texas at large surely warrants a mask mandate. Currently, 96% of ICU beds across Texas are full due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. This week, an average of 40 children were hospitalized every day with COVID-19, which is the highest rate in a year. We do not want the next one of these children to be a member of the Clear Creek ISD Community. With tens of thousands of people going to schools every day without masks, CCISD is taking the risk of making this number even higher.

We ask that Clear Creek ISD makes it mandatory for all teachers, staff, and students to wear face coverings in all CCISD schools and facilities. We ask that CCISD does what is best for the community. We ask that CCISD "leads the way."