Face Masks

More Florida school boards vote to require masks as the state follows through with the threat to hold back funding. And, how the state changed reporting COVID-19 deaths.

Attorneys for parents who challenged the executive order filed a motion requesting that the judge issue an order vacating the automatic stay. If the request is granted, that could keep his ruling in effect during the appeal.

Taking the case to the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee puts an automatic stay on the judge's ruling, which effectively means it would be put on hold while an appeal moves forward.

Both counties sent letters to Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran saying they believe they are in compliance by allowing only medical exemptions to their mandates.

The board, on a 3-2 vote, decided that parents who wish their children to be exempted must fill out a form. The policy takes effect Monday.

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran says the districts are noncompliant with a state health department rule triggered by a governor's ban on local mandates, which a judge has ruled is unconstitutional.

The penalties were levied after a judge ruled that the governor's executive order blocking mask mandates in schools was unconstitutional. Meantime, two more districts enacted mandates without parental opt-outs.

Gov. Ron DeSantis tells reporters that his office plans to appeal Friday’s court ruling during a Jacksonville news conference in which a woman seen sick on the floor in a viral photo says the treatment helped keep her alive.

Attorneys for the parents say the executive order violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and two other federal disabilities laws.

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.