COVID-19 and school

While members of the parent group understand the rights of parents to determine what's best for their children, the mask mandate debate is a bigger discussion about public safety.

A circuit court judge ruled against Gov. Ron DeSantis and his order prohibiting public schools from instituting mask requirements. An attorney representing parents who sued called it a "bulletproof" ruling.

A circuit judge is expected to make his ruling today on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order that sought to ban school districts from requiring students to wear masks.

A ruling is expected Friday in a lawsuit over Gov. Ron DeSantis’ effort to ban school districts from requiring students wear face masks. Closing arguments are slated for Thursday.

The counties are the ninth and 10th to defy the governor's executive order requiring parents to decide whether their children wear face coverings in school.

“We are extremely disappointed that decisions to modify our approach are no longer being guided by science and data,” USF Faculty Senate President Timothy Boaz said.

The hearing began with plaintiffs’ attorneys calling medical doctors as witnesses, with arguments centered mostly on the efficacy of wearing masks to help the spread of COVID-19.

The Pinellas County School Board decided against a motion that would have called for a vote on requiring students and staff to wear masks.

Duval County Public Schools has joined the growing list of Florida school districts defying Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on school face mask mandates.

The parents are challenging an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis that seeks to block county school boards from requiring students to wear masks.

Pinellas Safe Schools is asking for mandatory masks for all students and school employees for 60 days, plus more timely quarantine notifications.

South Florida students who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 may not be able to attend school at all if their classmates aren't wearing masks, their parents argue.