FL To Punish Counties For Mandating Masks In School

Jacksonville’s NBC News affiliate reports:

The State Board of Education on Tuesday voted in favor of a recommendation to “use its enforcement powers” against Alachua County Public Schools after the district defied a statewide order to allow students to opt out of wearing a face mask without a doctor’s note.

With a unanimous vote, the board authorized the Florida Department of Education to investigate the Alachua County School Board and Alachua County Superintendent Carlee Simon as well as take “all legal steps to enforce rules” of the board and rules of the Florida Department of Health.

Miami’s ABC News affiliate reports:

Florida’s education chief says he wants to punish Broward County Public Schools for not following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order that calls for masking to be optional. Richard Corcoran is calling for sanctions but hasn’t yet said what kind.

In a letter sent to Broward schools on Tuesday, Corcoran wrote that, “I find there is probable cause that the School Board of Broward County and the district’s superintendent, Vickie Cartwright, acted contrary to the law.”

NEW: Florida State Board of Education has voted unanimously to punish Broward and Alachua counties for mandating masks in schools.

Exact punishment will come after more investigation.

Could include targeting salaries of officials or removing school board members.

— Jay O’Brien (@jayobtv) August 17, 2021