The Fort Stockton Independent School District School Board unanimously voted in favor of temporarily requiring mask to be worn on all campuses and transportation for students, teachers, staff, and guests at their emergency meeting on Aug. 25.

The mandate will begin on Thursday, Aug. 26 with no timeframe set on how long the requirement will last.

FSISD Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Zamora stated that due to the recent litigation involving Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-38 – an order which prohibits mask mandates in public schools – FSISD is able to move forward with mask requirements without penalty from the state.

“I’ve spoke to TEA and other agencies, and at this point, TEA and other agencies that have come forward and said it’s unenforceable until the litigation is complete,” he said. “There is no loophole here. This is not whatever district ISD looking for a dress code or some other loophole. Rather what is happening is, a void was created because of the litigation that is taking place throughout the state.”

The superintendent and the school board will revisit the matter on Monday at the group’s regular board meeting to discuss greater detail in terms of the timeframe of the requirements and other details involving the mask policy.

Zamora stated that the Fort Stockton ISD needs to do what is best for the local community and with COVID-19 numbers rising at a rapid rate (17 positive tests within the district via an antigen test since school started) the appropriate action is to protect the kids as best as possible.

The superintendent presented both options to the board and ended by stating he recommends a temporary mask mandate.

“I think the answer at this point is fairly simple. We’ve came together to establish how we feel as a school board and to show the community where we stand. The two recommendations that I have here is to move forward with the GA-38 mandate and the other is to mandate masks in lieu of the pending litigation. For all the staff, students, and visitors and for that mandate to be refined at our meeting next Monday because there are different exceptions that have to be considered by the UIL policy,” Zamora said. “But up until that time, the campuses will have masks to supply our students if they show up without one. We know there will be a transition point. My recommendation is we institute a mask mandate until the next where we can refine.”

The school board members followed his recommendation by each stating the way they each felt about a mask policy. Provided are the comments by each school board member, which concluded with a unanimous vote in favor of the mask requirement by the board.

Sandra Rivera

“I’m for the masks because what Dr. Zamora said and the judge, our numbers are rising. I have kid too in middle school and I asked him today, would you prefer a mask or not a mask. And he said he would prefer one. He said he didn’t want to get COVID. The other concern I had is children with medical conditions. We got to consider that too.

The other one that Dr. Zamora brought up to is hospital beds. That concerns me.”

Freddie Martinez

“I’m for the masks because how can we protect our students? Our staff? If someone don’t want a mask then give them a shield. We can provide that and for masks if they start getting dirty, we can provide new ones.”

Flo Garcia

“I neither for the masks or against the masks. I feel that those that want to wear it wear it. Those that don’t, don’t.

I can also tell you that if there is a tornado going down the road and I got to get somewhere, I’m not going to drive into it. So, I’m not going to drive into it. I don’t feel we have a crisis right now in our district but there might be a tornado coming our way. I think it’s a good idea.”

Andy Rivera

“I did some research and talked to Dr. Velasquez earlier. Last year COVID wasn’t big on kids or students. This is different. This is the Delta variant, it is attacking kids. Last year I wasn’t worried about it, but he said he recommends it and my thing is and other people’s thing is really just opinions. The doctors are ones that know do research on this.”

Ursula Sanchez

“I go along with Flo about wearing a mask or not wearing a mask. For each their own. But after talking to some of our doctors, Dr. Boinpally, Dr. Velasquez, it’s just the thought of our kids being sick and it was based on our votes, I couldn’t deal with. I couldn’t be able to take it.”

Anastacio “Nacho” Dominguez

“I hate these masks. I’ll be the first one to tell you they’re bugging my ears right now. I hate them.

But guys, it’s like sending our police force out there without their guns, and without bullet proof vests. We have these tools available for us.

I completely agree with what Ursula is saying. If anyone catches the Delta variant or this pandemic touches one of those students, and we had the opportunity here to at least put on a mask, if we didn’t do It I wouldn’t want to live with myself.

I got three kids in school. One is a teacher and two are in sports and they go on these buses. My main point here is to make sure our staff and children are safe while there in our schools. This is just a small bit I can do.”

Billy Espino

“My deal is that this is not about politics. It’s about saving students, staff, parents. We need to be proactive not reactive. We’ve seen what is happening in Odessa, Midland, Del Rio, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston.

Does that sound familiar? That’s what happened last time. With the Labor Day Weekend coming up we don’t know where our students and families will be traveling to. What I do know is we cannot control where they go on the holiday.

Our kids need to be in school. I don’t think will argue with that. We’ve gone over that the last few years. We lost two years of instruction at least. We don’t need to add to it. We have a responsibility to our students to provide a safe and secure environment in our schools. We can’t do it alone. Everyone needs to contribute and do their part. For some reason or another, these last few years have provided an opportunity for some folks to promote divisive rhetoric instead of solutions. Let’s provide solutions to the problem instead of creating excuses for havoc to talk. I talked to my personal doctor and other medical professionals. They feel as I do.”