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In Gainesville last night, Alachua County Public Schools voted to require masks for its students at the start of the school year.
From their Facebook page:
“In light of dramatic increases in local COVID cases and hospitalizations, including among children, the School Board has voted to require masks for students for the first two weeks of school. The Board will reevaluate at its August 17 meeting.”
The board voted unanimously to require students to wear masks for the first two weeks of the school year.
Alachua County Public Schools serves over 27,000 students and is made up of 44 schools and centers, including:*23 elementary schools*1 Kindergarten-8th grade school*7 middle schools*7 high schools*2 K-12 schools for students with disabilities*1 Headstart/Prekindergarten program*1 center for students with disciplinary issues*1 environmental education center*1 family services center.
Brevard Public Schools Board Member Jennifer Jenkins has requested a special school board meeting prior to the regular scheduled August 10, 2021 meeting (the first day of school), to discuss concern for the safety of students, staff, and community.
Last week, Governor DeSantis signed an executive order directing the department of education to withhold money from school districts that enact mask mandates.. Some officials have argued that the measure violates the Florida constitutional requirement to provide a fair and equal education to all students, as well as violating federal law.
