Florida Defies Court, Defunds Schools Over Masks

The Tampa Bay Times reports:

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran announced Monday that the state Department of Education has withheld funds from the Alachua and Broward county school districts in amounts equal to school board members’ monthly salaries.

The move was a penalty for the school boards requiring students to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, with exceptions only for students whose parents submit doctors’ notes. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order July 30 that sought to prohibit local school districts from enacting student mask mandates.

Corcoran’s announcement Monday came after Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper on Friday ruled that DeSantis’ overstepped his constitutional authority in issuing the executive order.

Read the full article. DeSantis has said he will appeal the ruling but as of yesterday, no appeal had been been filed.

Florida penalizes Alachua, Broward school districts in mask standoffs https://t.co/3Y91pcbvGw

— Tampa Bay Times (@TB_Times) August 31, 2021

BREAKING: Florida education chief announces cuts to Broward County Public Schools’ funding over face mask mandate https://t.co/OaINxrKfjo

— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) August 30, 2021