Dallas Diocese Catholic Schools Mask Optional Proposal

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There is no set of metrics or timeline that allows for local control to return to Diocese schools and a mask optional policy to be adopted. This mandate is in contradiction to the Bishop’s decree which allows mask to be optional at Mass. 

This lack of clarity makes it difficult for parents to make informed decisions about the best interests of their children, and whether they should remain at their current diocese school or move elsewhere. 

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services has divided the state into different trauma service areas. The DFW area and the Diocese of Dallas Catholic Schools are in Trauma Service Area E. 

When Trauma Service Area E has had seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID- 19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity falls below 15 percent, local control will be restored to schools and mask optional policies can be adopted. 

The Catholic Diocese is stuck in the middle of a very passionate debate. People on both sides want what’s best for their children. Not having metrics is alienating many parents. In order to unify parents across the Diocese and take the emotion out of this conversation there needs to be a fair policy that is easy to understand and follow. The proposal is fair, science- and data-based. This policy also takes out all real or perceived subjectiveness for a return to mask optional. This is the same policy that was used in the state of Texas to determine when to lift COVID restrictions

It is recommended that the Catholic Diocese adopt this proposal promptly to start giving parents time to understand when (and why) masks are required and when they become optional. This will allow parents the ability to make decisions for their family. It is recommended that the Diocese and each local school communicate local case counts and hospital percentage for our trauma service area on a weekly basis until the COVID-19 Disaster Declaration has been lifted in Texas.