Face Masks

The Alachua County School District has received $148,000 from the Biden administration to make up for pay cuts.

Dr. Joseph Ladapo comes to Florida from UCLA and is a Harvard Medical School graduate. He says vaccines are not the only way to promote "good health" and the decision to get one is up to each person.

The deposition was sought by attorneys for school boards and parties challenging a Department of Health rule that requires parents to be able to “opt out” their children from any school mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In their lawsuit, parents of disabled children contended that the executive order violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities.

A proposal from board member Caprice Edmond did not receive a second, meaning no discussion or vote on the issue took place. Masks will remain optional for students.

One board member will propose a district mask mandate with only a medical opt-out available at Tuesday afternoon’s board meeting.

The ruling allows the state to once again impose financial penalties on school boards currently defying the mask mandate ban.

The Hillsborough County School District says the mandate has resulted in a 58% decrease in coronavirus cases since they reached their peak last month.

The Miami-Dade County School Board, the NAACP and other parties say the department did not have a legal basis for a rule aimed at preventing district mask mandates.

The state claims the trial judge substituted his "own health policy preferences or risk assessments for those of the governor or, more importantly, the state health officer and surgeon general.”

Those who died include teachers, bus drivers, a security worker and a cafeteria manager. "It is a bruising statistic that we need to absolutely internalize," said Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho.

It's not a final decision on whether facial coverings can be required in school. Legal challenges are continuing in state and federal proceedings.