Texas teachers union urges state to keep mask mandate in place From CNN’s Chris Boyette A custodial worker vacuums a classroom at an elementary school in Leander, Texas, on Friday, September 18, 2020. Sergio Flores/Bloomberg/Getty Images Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina issued a statement Tuesday saying that despite making progress against the Covid‐19 pandemic, removing state health mandates, including the mask wearing requirement, risks “disastrous consequences,” especially in schools. “The Texas State Teachers Association urges the governor to keep his mask mandate in place, especially in our public schools, and see that it is enforced,“ the statement said.