WACO, Texas — Four Waco area school districts face potential lawsuits from the state if they don't rescind their mask mandates.
Connally, La Vega, McGregor, and Waco school districts all require students to wear a mask.
“Masks have repeatedly been shown to reduce the spread of the virus, and increasing the number of people wearing masks will make our schools a safer place in the midst of this pandemic," said Dr. Susan Kincannon, Waco ISD superintendent in late August. "Waco ISD has to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced in a Facebook post that school districts that don't rescind their mask mandates would be met with lawsuits.
"Rescind now or see you in court!" Paxton said.
According to Paxton, Calvert ISD in the Brazos Valley rescinded its mask mandate.
As of Wednesday, 90 other school districts in Texas also face lawsuits over ask mandates. The full list can be found on the Attorney General's website.
25 News reached out to the four Waco area school districts to confirm if they will continue with their current mask mandates.
Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Susan Kincannon said the school district will continue to require masks inside all Waco ISD buildings.
Below is Dr. Kincannon's full statement:
"Governor Abbott, Attorney General Paxton and Commissioner Morath need to get their stories straight. The state told a court in Dallas that neither the governor nor the attorney general would be enforcing the mask provisions of the governor's executive order. The Texas Education Agency told school districts that the mask provisions wouldn't be enforced while litigation was ongoing. Now, the attorney general is making threats on Facebook.
"I'm not interested in politics. I'm focused on taking care of kids, and that includes doing what we can as a school district to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in our schools and other facilities. We'll continue to consult with medical experts and monitor both public health and legal developments. For now, though, we will also continue to require masks inside all Waco ISD buildings."
A Connally ISD official said the district is working with its attorney to determine how it will proceed.
25 News is waiting on replies from the other districts.
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