Pinellas County Schools

While some districts statewide are pausing out-of-state travel, one Tampa Bay area district is making all field trips voluntary for students.

A proposal from board member Caprice Edmond failed to get 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 mandate with only a medical opt-out at Tuesday afternoon’s school board meeting.

Pinellas declined to enact a stricter mandate this past week. After a judge's ruling struck down a state executive ordeer, one parent group said it plans to petition the board again.

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

Pinellas will continue to strongly recommend masks, but parents do not have to fill out forms if they choose to not wear one.

Among them: People with flu-like symptoms should stay home, simultaneous online instruction will no longer be offered, and quarantine policies are eased for those vaccinated.

In Pinellas, the change takes effect at 5 p.m. Wednesday, the final day of the school year. In Polk, where classes ended May 27, it became effective Wednesday morning.

Thousands of parents have told the Pinellas County school district that they want their children to return to campus after starting the school year online.