Rocky Hanna, Leon County Superintendent, stated that, despite being controversial, I believe it is the right thing to temporarily do until we understand the Delta variant better and its impact on school-aged children.Between July 23 and 29, the state Department of Health reported 10,785 Covid-19-related infections in children aged 12 and under. More than 11,500 hospitalizations were reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida had more than 50,000 new infections and 100 death in a three-day period. Florida is now responsible for approximately one fifth of all new infections in America.This is why school districts all over the state are trying to create new rules that will keep children safe and follow DeSantis' orders. School officials in Duval County voted Tuesday to make students wear masks, with the caveat of parents being able to opt out.Christina Pushaw, spokesperson for DeSantis, stated that state agencies have finalized health and education emergency regulations this week, which allow parents to decide whether or not their children wear masks.She said that school districts should allow parents to make this choice.Other Florida school districts require masks for visitors, teachers, and vendors. Alachua Leon, Broward and Broward were among the first to advocate for masking students in spite of DeSantis' order. DeSantis's Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran demanded that school leaders implement mandatory mask rules. If they don't fight back, it could lead to financial losses for them.Corcoran and his crew will go after our money, Leanetta McNealy, Alachua County school board chair, stated Tuesday. I would rather them go after our money than [funeral homes] where people are being placed.Officials at Alachua see it as a matter if life and death. Carlee Simon, local school superintendent, stated Tuesday that the school district was dealing with 15 positive Covid-19 case. Classes are still days away.Alachuas School Board, which represents approximately 28,000 Gainseville students, will reexamine its districtwide mask requirement for Aug. 17.Simon stated that we are in a position where our workforce is literally being lost.
