North Texas families join class-action lawsuit against districts without a mask mandate
GRAPEVINE, Texas - Families in three North Texas school districts are part of a federal lawsuit aimed at implementing COVID-19 safety measures like mask wearing.
The families from Frisco ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD and the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district joined the lawsuit along with families from Lago Vista ISD, which is northwest of Austin.
All four districts encourage mask wearing but don’t require it because of Gov. Greg Abbott’s order banning mask mandates in public schools.
"We know masking works. Just last week, the CDC said counties with schools that had mask requirements had a smaller increase in pediatric cases than counties without school mask requirements. And we’re just using the courts because we’re not like other people who want to use intimidation or violence in disagreements without government," said Kathleen Thompson, a Grapevine-Colleyville ISD parent.
RELATED: COVID-19 cases higher in schools without mask policies, CDC studies show
The families accuse the school districts of violating their children’s constitutional rights to equal protection as stated in the 14th Amendment.
U.S. Justice Department supports challenge to mask mandate ban
The Biden Administration threw its support behind another set of families suing to overturn Gov. Abbott’s mask mandate ban.
Those families who have students with disabilities argue the order prevents their children from going to school safely.
The United States Justice Department filed a statement with a federal court in Austin that’s hearing the lawsuit.
It says Abbott’s order violates the rights of students with disabilities even if their school district offers an online option.
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