Students across the Rio Grande Valley are starting to head back to school next month as Covid cases continue to increase.

In a letter to state Gov. Greg Abbott, a member of the State Board of Education is saying the governor has stripped communities of what they need to fight the Delta variant.

In the letter, District 2 Board of Education Member Ruben Cortez said he wants the governor to allow schools to make their own choices when it comes to protecting their students.

"All I'm asking is that the Governor be flexible like he was in some of his previous executive orders,” Cortez said. 

Abbott issued an executive order that states that it is up to individuals to decide whether or not to wear a mask.  Cortez would prefer to let school districts make that decision, especially with the Texas Educational Agency no longer funding virtual learning.

“…When 5.5 million kids return to school, what you're looking at now those numbers are going to increase," Cortez said.

Watch the video above for the full story.