Jacksonville ISD issues statement on mask policy

Jacksonville ISD remains committed to protocols that prevent and minimize the spread of COVID-19. JISD Administration reviewed the updated public health guidance provided to Texas school districts by the Texas Education Agency. A review of this guidance indicated that all previous contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation requirements associated with positive COVID-19 individuals will continue, whether or not a district has a mask policy in place.

We also consulted with our local health department and believe a change in our current COVID-19 protocol would have a detrimental effect on face-to-face instruction for our students and staff for the remainder of this school year. With only 11 weeks left in the current year, face coverings and masks will remain a requirement for access to JISD schools, facilities, activities, and events.
JISD believes that our current practices have kept our school community safe, and classrooms open for continuous instruction during this global pandemic. The federal government recently announced that educators are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The District will continue partnering with the Cherokee County Health Department and UT-Health to ensure every JISD staff member who so desire is able to be vaccinated as soon as doses become available.
For the remainder of this school year, wearing masks will continue to be required at JISD. Students and staff must also heed social distancing where possible and practice frequent hand washing, while our custodial staff will continue to sanitize our facilities several times a day on a daily basis.

JISD will continue to monitor the pandemic’s trends in our community and will continue our current practices in order to keep our children and employees safe. Thank you for your cooperation as we look forward to finishing out the 20-21 school year with on-campus instruction and with as little disruption as possible.