Texas School Gets Around Ban On Mask Mandates By Updating Dress Code

While school districts in Texas remain locked in a legal battle with Governor Greg Abbott over his ban of mask mandates, one district believes they have found a loophole in the governor's order.

The Board of the Paris Independent School District voted to update the dress code to require all students and staff members to wear a mask. The dress code has been updated to say:

"For health reasons, masks are required for all employees and students to mitigate flu, cold, pandemic, and any other communicable diseases."

The Board of Trustees said that Abbott does not have the legal authority to make changes to the dress code.

"The Texas Governor does not have the authority to usurp the Board of Trustees' exclusive power and duty to govern and oversee the management of the public schools of the district. Nothing in the Governor's Executive Order 38 states he has suspended Chapter 11 of the Texas Education Code, and therefore the Board has elected to amend its dress code consistent with its statutory authority," the district said in a statement.

The Board, which approved the measure by a 5-1 vote, said they will revisit the dress code every month.

The district's 4,000 students are preparing to return to class this week and will be expected to wear masks.