We want a mask mandate for all of Conroe ISD.

Districts all over the state are now going against the governor's executive order, including most recently our neighbor Spring ISD. We implore you to do the same as soon as humanly possible. Your current recommendation is strong, but is not enough.

Keeping our kids safe through the simple use of a mask is going to require a mandate within the district. You've strongly recommended and have spoken to our local medical professionals, and we commend you for this and for sharing this with parents. However, it's not enough as is evident by the continued lack of masking within our schools. There is a slim chance that a child will become seriously ill or die, but the risk goes beyond this, and one child's death is too many if we could have prevented it. One immunocompromised CISD staff member contracting COVID is too many if we could have prevented it.

We know you've been working around the clock, and we truly appreciate this. However, with 71 students and 54 teachers already reporting active cases before the school year has started, we must ask for more: masks are the most basic line of defense our unvaccinated children have -- and are not that much to ask.

Please follow what other superintendents and boards have done throughout Texas this week -- and around the country. Mandate masks for all within Conroe ISD.