Ector County ISD Mask Mandate Depends on New Court Challenge

ODESSA, TX – In the wake of the Texas Supreme Court siding with Governor Abbott regarding who has the power to implement a mask mandate, Ector County ISD passed a resolution to require masks in the district.
 
This mask mandate varies from others as it will not go into effect until a final decision has been reached on all legal challenges by the Texas Supreme Court.

The resolution was reached during a highly contentious school board meeting held on Thursday. During the meeting, dozens of residents spoke on the issue.

Those against the mask mandate presented their arguments.

“There is an agenda to implement socialism in our nation,” said Jennifer Woodall. “To me, this is just one step towards that, and I just can’t stand for it. Why are we making kids wear these cloth masks when we don’t know their long-term effects?”

Multiple medical experts also spoke about the rising cases of coronavirus in the community.

“I’ll tell you that most shifts begin with crying, and most shifts end with crying,” said Christin Timmons, the Medical Center Hospital Chief Nursing Officer. “There is no room left. There is no room left in the inn... I really feel like we’re one patient away from disaster.”