Effective May 10, Plano ISD revised its mask policy to state:

Due to improved conditions in our community, the warmer weather and revised guidance from the local health department, Plano ISD will be making masks optional for students and staff who are engaging in physical activity outdoors and maintaining a safe distance from other people not in the same household. This will remain in effect for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.

However, yesterday our daughter was required to wear a mask while at Recess and when we dropped her off this morning the teacher told her to put on her mask immediately (outside, before entance into building).

We emailed the teacher / principal and got a response that effectively says she can take her mask off but sit off in the corner of the playground. Other elementary schools in plano are operating much more "normal" than ours.

Curious if anyone else has any experience on this new mandate within Plano.

I know people are going to say "homeschool" or "private" but honestly with my work situation right now it just is not feasible to go private school route. My current hope / attempt is to make a better environment for our daughter in public school.

There are like 2-2.5 weeks left, right?

I would just ride it out and reassess based on what policies are put in place for the fall, unless you just live to tilt with "authority".

JDCAG (NOT Colin) said:

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There are like 2-2.5 weeks left, right?

I would just ride it out and reassess based on what policies are put in place for the fall, unless you just live to tilt with "authority".

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I get it. Almost at the home stretch but it has been 1.5 years. Enough is enough.

My frustration is not as much with the school but the Administration. Why put such a policy in place if it changes nothing. Prior to this policy change my daughter could have run to the other side of the playground, dug in the dirt, and taken her mask off.

I am honestly tired of being quiet. The loud people are the pro-mask people and they are getting their way...

planoaggie123 said:

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JDCAG (NOT Colin) said:

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There are like 2-2.5 weeks left, right?

I would just ride it out and reassess based on what policies are put in place for the fall, unless you just live to tilt with "authority".

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I get it. Almost at the home stretch but it has been 1.5 years. Enough is enough.

My frustration is not as much with the school but the Administration. Why put such a policy in place if it changes nothing. Prior to this policy change my daughter could have run to the other side of the playground, dug in the dirt, and taken her mask off.

I am honestly tired of being quiet. The loud people are the pro-mask people and they are getting their way...

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That has zero to do with them being loud.

JDCAG (NOT Colin) said:

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There are like 2-2.5 weeks left, right?

I would just ride it out and reassess based on what policies are put in place for the fall, unless you just live to tilt with "authority".

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Disagree... EVERYONE needs to push back on this non-sense.

planoaggie123 said:

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JDCAG (NOT Colin) said:

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There are like 2-2.5 weeks left, right?

I would just ride it out and reassess based on what policies are put in place for the fall, unless you just live to tilt with "authority".

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I get it. Almost at the home stretch but it has been 1.5 years. Enough is enough.

My frustration is not as much with the school but the Administration. Why put such a policy in place if it changes nothing. Prior to this policy change my daughter could have run to the other side of the playground, dug in the dirt, and taken her mask off.

I am honestly tired of being quiet. The loud people are the pro-mask people and they are getting their way...

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Get after em.

powerbelly said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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JDCAG (NOT Colin) said:

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There are like 2-2.5 weeks left, right?

I would just ride it out and reassess based on what policies are put in place for the fall, unless you just live to tilt with "authority".

---

I get it. Almost at the home stretch but it has been 1.5 years. Enough is enough.

My frustration is not as much with the school but the Administration. Why put such a policy in place if it changes nothing. Prior to this policy change my daughter could have run to the other side of the playground, dug in the dirt, and taken her mask off.

I am honestly tired of being quiet. The loud people are the pro-mask people and they are getting their way...

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That has zero to do with them being loud.

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Not 100% sure I follow....

planoaggie123 said:

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powerbelly said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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JDCAG (NOT Colin) said:

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There are like 2-2.5 weeks left, right?

I would just ride it out and reassess based on what policies are put in place for the fall, unless you just live to tilt with "authority".

---

I get it. Almost at the home stretch but it has been 1.5 years. Enough is enough.

My frustration is not as much with the school but the Administration. Why put such a policy in place if it changes nothing. Prior to this policy change my daughter could have run to the other side of the playground, dug in the dirt, and taken her mask off.

I am honestly tired of being quiet. The loud people are the pro-mask people and they are getting their way...

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That has zero to do with them being loud.

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Not 100% sure I follow....

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The state government changing guidance has allowed school boards cover to reduce mask rules. People yelling at the school board meetings aren't moving the needle at all.

powerbelly said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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powerbelly said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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JDCAG (NOT Colin) said:

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There are like 2-2.5 weeks left, right?

I would just ride it out and reassess based on what policies are put in place for the fall, unless you just live to tilt with "authority".

---

I get it. Almost at the home stretch but it has been 1.5 years. Enough is enough.

My frustration is not as much with the school but the Administration. Why put such a policy in place if it changes nothing. Prior to this policy change my daughter could have run to the other side of the playground, dug in the dirt, and taken her mask off.

I am honestly tired of being quiet. The loud people are the pro-mask people and they are getting their way...

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That has zero to do with them being loud.

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Not 100% sure I follow....

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The state government changing guidance has allowed school boards cover to reduce mask rules. People yelling at the school board meetings aren't moving the needle at all.

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Obviously something is driving "mask first" schools.

Maybe its not loud people at the school board meetings but rather the fear porn on many of the major networks and people like Dr. Fauci. The problem is, without yelling, those pro-mask people are driving policy.

If a school is slow to change or resistant to change, what should a parent do? Just wait for next year?

I was surprised they changed anything as the path of least resistance was to just finish the year. In any case, they will not require masks inside or out next year. No online learning. All back to normal

planoaggie123 said:

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powerbelly said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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powerbelly said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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JDCAG (NOT Colin) said:

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There are like 2-2.5 weeks left, right?

I would just ride it out and reassess based on what policies are put in place for the fall, unless you just live to tilt with "authority".

---

I get it. Almost at the home stretch but it has been 1.5 years. Enough is enough.

My frustration is not as much with the school but the Administration. Why put such a policy in place if it changes nothing. Prior to this policy change my daughter could have run to the other side of the playground, dug in the dirt, and taken her mask off.

I am honestly tired of being quiet. The loud people are the pro-mask people and they are getting their way...

---

That has zero to do with them being loud.

---

Not 100% sure I follow....

---

The state government changing guidance has allowed school boards cover to reduce mask rules. People yelling at the school board meetings aren't moving the needle at all.

---

Obviously something is driving "mask first" schools.

Maybe its not loud people at the school board meetings but rather the fear porn on many of the major networks and people like Dr. Fauci. The problem is, without yelling, those pro-mask people are driving policy.

If a school is slow to change or resistant to change, what should a parent do? Just wait for next year?

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Keep fighting! If they get away with it now, they will try to start next school year with masks. The mask thing needs to be broken now.

Fore Left! said:

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I was surprised they changed anything as the path of least resistance was to just finish the year. In any case, they will not require masks inside or out next year. No online learning. All back to normal

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Honeslty, I was shocked they made a policy change. They should have, if anything, started it with summer school programs. Clearly they did not think through it much.

I guess for me and deciding to "push the issue" is to ensure a voice is heard that we want normalcy as soon as possible. I know they say normal next year but I guess I don't fully trust until I see it and will make my voice heard no matter how little impact it may have.

I had a good back and forth with the principal. She definitely leans left of me but she seemed to get where I am coming from. I am hopeful, if it stops raining in the next 2.5 weeks, that recess will be a little more normal for our daughter.

Right, but just to be clear, they have announced no masks next year and no remote learning. They are working on a virtual school option like some districts provided prior to covid (basically a home-schooling type offering like Grapevine ISD has been offering for some time), but the campuses themselves will have no online kids

Our kids are in a private school that is 100% masked, indoor and out, and will remain so through the end of the school year.

Each class also has to keep to itself during recess outside even though the kids are still masked. Example, 3rd grade class 1 plays basketball, foursquare and tether-ball, 3rd grade Class 2 gets the swingset/playground, and 3rd Grade Class 3 plays kickball in the field and there is no mixing of the kids from the classes.

jpd301 said:

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Our kids are in a private school that is 100% masked, indoor and out, and will remain so through the end of the school year.

Each class also has to keep to itself during recess outside even though the kids are still masked. Example, 3rd grade class 1 plays basketball, foursquare and tether-ball, 3rd grade Class 2 gets the swingset/playground, and 3rd Grade Class 3 plays kickball in the field and there is no mixing of the kids from the classes.

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That would be a tough pill to swallow. Spending all that money for such lunacy. Kids are not at risk. If any teacher is not vaccinated yet they are not trying / dont care....

SoupNazi2001 said:

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So this entire year Plano ISD required masks while outside at recess or PE. Wow, I was mad at LISD for their mask policy but they didn't even require that. That's ridiculous.

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Yes. All year. And strictly enforced.

Shame....


edit: stictly enforced at my daughter's school and a few other schools. a few schools we know that were more relaxed on rules....

My kid was at West and basically chin-diapered all year. So strictly enforced was by campus.

SoupNazi2001 said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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SoupNazi2001 said:

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So this entire year Plano ISD required masks while outside at recess or PE. Wow, I was mad at LISD for their mask policy but they didn't even require that. That's ridiculous.

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Yes. All year. And strictly enforced.

Shame....

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I would absolutely be raising hell and I don't agree that it doesn't do any good. Katy ISD dropped their mandate after vocal parents sued them for it.

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Good for Katy ISD parents.

Maybe shame on us for not being more vocal but the past few weeks my wife and i have had enough (speaking at school board meeting, emailing principal, emailing superintendent, emailing school board members).

Doing everything respectfully so far. I hope you are right and it will do some good for our kids...and not just our kids but i sincerely believe what we advocate for is good for all kids....

Just 2 more weeks, as we've been saying for 15 months now


I'd be pissed too, for what it's worth.

planoaggie123 said:

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SoupNazi2001 said:

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So this entire year Plano ISD required masks while outside at recess or PE. Wow, I was mad at LISD for their mask policy but they didn't even require that. That's ridiculous.

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Yes. All year. And strictly enforced.

Shame....


edit: stictly enforced at my daughter's school and a few other schools. a few schools we know that were more relaxed on rules....

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Just dumb. No one should have to wear a mask outside, much less a child!!

Well it continued this AM just a bit....at drop off my daughter got out of the car without her mask and made it 2 feet before being told to put her mask on.

I safely swerve out of dropoff line, park in Teacher of the Year spot, and walk up directly to the principal who is standing outside and asked why on earth we continue to mask these kids up in fresh air. She said the Chief Operating Officer of PISD and her and a few others havea a meeting this morning to discuss. They got my emails yesterday.

I am likely on a list of crazy parents at this point...

Our ISD did away with mask policy several months ago and before that kids weren't wearing them in class. Cases have almost been non existent.

agcraigb said:

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Our ISD did away with mask policy several months ago and before that kids weren't wearing them in class. Cases have almost been non existent.

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Which ISD?

I am fairly certain our principal is taking the most extreme lines on wearing masks that she can possibly take. I am starting to feel like our shcool is the outlier even with PISD. The issue is in part that our PISD Administration did not really provide any sort of formal discussion / guidance on the new policy and so that then allows for principals to just go w/ what they feel as it relates to interpretation.

From the PISD email:

masks optional for students and staff who are engaging in physical activity outdoors and maintaining a safe distance from other people not in the same household.

Walking into school: engaging in physical activity?

I brought that up...the principal actually told me she believed that they intended that to mean PE and Recess...not walking into the building.

I am not making this up...its crazy....

I read the email and assumed it meant PE/recess. My 2nd grader came home and said "we don't have to wear masks outside at PE or recess." I guess that's on PISD staff who put out that message without accounting for the overly litigious among us.

planoaggie123 said:

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Well it continued this AM just a bit....at drop off my daughter got out of the car without her mask and made it 2 feet before being told to put her mask on.

I safely swerve out of dropoff line, park in Teacher of the Year spot, and walk up directly to the principal who is standing outside and asked why on earth we continue to mask these kids up in fresh air. She said the Chief Operating Officer of PISD and her and a few others havea a meeting this morning to discuss. They got my emails yesterday.

I am likely on a list of crazy parents at this point...

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Keep up the pressure.

Here is the most current response as of a few minutes ago:

Mr. and Mrs. XXXX,


I wanted to follow up with you after our conversation at carpool. I have reiterated with my staff that the new mask mandate applies to physical activity during outside PE and recess. I have informed them that the district has defined a "safe distance' as being 3ft apart.

I also had the opportunity to observe XXXX playing at recess. She was wearing her mask, as she was playing closely with friends. If you'd like, I am happy to speak to her and let her know that if she'd like to take her mask off and play with her friends at a safe distance. Just let me know.

Adults will still ask her to wear a mask when entering the building, as this has not changed.

I will follow up with my supervisor and let her know that we've spoken. If there are any further concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.


I honestly believe they will ultimately say any sort of playing w/ kids will require masks.

I also believe she will have to wear a mask from the car to the building.

I dont think anything will chnage.

Spoke with Cody Weaver on the PISD School Board. Extremely nice and open to listening to concerns.

He is hearing a lot of complaints throughout the district similar to us. He said the schools ultimately did not want this but the Board pushed and pushed. He said this extreme interpretation is due to people not wanting to allow masks and there is enough vagueness in the wording to allow it.

We will be attending the Board meeting this coming Tuesday, May 18.

I get the frustration. And the playground stuff doesn't make much sense.

But it seems that a sticking point for you is putting the mask on upon exiting the car vs putting it on upon entering the building. This difference appears miniscule and not worth the effort. Like the first response said, I'd probably let it ride and fight it in the fall if necessary (I highly doubt it will be).

And at least the admin is communicating with you. Keep in mind that they, like a lot of us, have had to deal with a lot of crap in the last year plus. Good luck!

double aught said:

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I get the frustration. And the playground stuff doesn't make much sense.

But it seems that a sticking point for you is putting the mask on upon exiting the car vs putting it on upon entering the building. This difference appears miniscule and not worth the effort. Like the first response said, I'd probably let it ride and fight it in the fall if necessary (I highly doubt it will be).

And at least the admin is communicating with you. Keep in mind that they, like a lot of us, have had to deal with a lot of crap in the last year plus. Good luck!

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My biggest point is recess / PE but the to/from car is just plain silly and maybe i bring it up more than i should here as it is just so laughable....


Edit: I will add everyone in the admin that i have talked to has been very nice and quick to respond so very happy with that. Our principal is nice too but I honestly believe she is more of a "pro-masker" and uses that as her basis for school policy.

planoaggie123 said:

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double aught said:

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I get the frustration. And the playground stuff doesn't make much sense.

But it seems that a sticking point for you is putting the mask on upon exiting the car vs putting it on upon entering the building. This difference appears miniscule and not worth the effort. Like the first response said, I'd probably let it ride and fight it in the fall if necessary (I highly doubt it will be).

And at least the admin is communicating with you. Keep in mind that they, like a lot of us, have had to deal with a lot of crap in the last year plus. Good luck!

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My biggest point is recess / PE but the to/from car is just plain silly and maybe i bring it up more than i should here as it is just so laughable....


Edit: I will add everyone in the admin that i have talked to has been very nice and quick to respond so very happy with that. Our principal is nice too but I honestly believe she is more of a "pro-masker" and uses that as her basis for school policy.

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Another possibility is that maybe she's not necessarily a pro-masker at heart, but she's so tired of fielding calls and complaints from the pro-maskers that it's easier for her and the school administrators to just make everyone wear masks as much as possible.

Goose said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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double aught said:

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I get the frustration. And the playground stuff doesn't make much sense.

But it seems that a sticking point for you is putting the mask on upon exiting the car vs putting it on upon entering the building. This difference appears miniscule and not worth the effort. Like the first response said, I'd probably let it ride and fight it in the fall if necessary (I highly doubt it will be).

And at least the admin is communicating with you. Keep in mind that they, like a lot of us, have had to deal with a lot of crap in the last year plus. Good luck!

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My biggest point is recess / PE but the to/from car is just plain silly and maybe i bring it up more than i should here as it is just so laughable....


Edit: I will add everyone in the admin that i have talked to has been very nice and quick to respond so very happy with that. Our principal is nice too but I honestly believe she is more of a "pro-masker" and uses that as her basis for school policy.

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Another possibility is that maybe she's not necessarily a pro-masker at heart, but she's so tired of fielding calls and complaints from the pro-maskers that it's easier for her and the school administrators to just make everyone wear masks as much as possible.

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Maybe. But with the new policy why not use it to your advantage if you want to get rid of masks.

Also, can't imagine many calls in favor of masks because they have been so pro mask all year. Nothing for them to complain about all year. Our school is super pro-mask.