Board of Education

One superintendent asks the Board of Education to take his pay, too, but was refused. Others argued their strict mandates were needed to protect students.

The noncompliant districts have 48 hours to change their policy or face financial penalties. Hillsborough, Sarasota and Indian River avoided punishment after recently changing their rules.

If weekly COVID-19 cases drop below 50 per 100,000 residents, the superintendent will switch to a policy with a parental opt-out. As of last week, the rate is 126 per 100,000.

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.”

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.

Florida have received more than $7 billion through the American Rescue Plan. The state says it has the next three years to use that money.

The state Board of Education said Alachua and Broward violated a state Department of Health rule that requires parents to be allowed to opt out of student mask mandates.

Miami-Dade, Hillsborough and Palm Beach remove parental opt-outs in defiance of the governor as President Biden calls for legal action against states that block health measures to protect students.

School board members met Tuesday to consider whether to reconsider the district’s face mask rules.

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has recommended both districts be punished, which could include withholding funds or even removal of leaders from office.