Teachers' association urges Abbott to issue order shuttering schools

The Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) wants Gov. Greg Abbott to issue an order closing school buildings until it's safe to reopen schools, according to a TSTA-issued news release.

TSTA President Ovidia Molina said lives are at stake.

"We are glad to hear that the state won’t overturn local health officials who have ordered school buildings to remain closed for several more weeks while the pandemic continues to rage across Texas," Molina said in the release. "But Gov. Abbott and the state education commissioner need to quit passing the buck on this crucial issue that affects the health and safety of millions of school children, school employees and their communities."

The association is demanding an order keeping schools closed and only providing remote education until it is safe to go back, Molina said in the release. 

"The state and school districts must work with educators to decide when that time is here," Molina said in the news release. "In the meantime, school districts must continue to receive full state funding."

Molina said school districts will be penalized if local health officials don't act.

"People’s lives are at stake," Molina said in the news release. "The governor needs to lead and do the right thing, not duck and wait for local health officials to decide for him."