| Florida cuts funding equal to the salaries of school board members who voted in favor of mask mandate Despite a court ruling saying school districts can require students to wear masks, the state is still withholding money to penalize Broward County schools. Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has said the state will take funding in the amount equal to the salaries of eight of the nine Broward School Board members who voted for the mask mandate on campuses. Similar penalties were imposed on other districts that have defied the governor. Corcoran has said that districts cannot use money designated for students or teacher pay to pay board member salaries. “We’re going to fight to protect parents’ rights to make health care decisions for their children. They know what is best for their children,” said Corcoran. He added, “Elected officials cannot pick and choose what laws they want to follow.” A release from the Department of Education said the state and Board of Education “retain the right and duty to impose additional sanctions and take additional enforcement action to bring each school district into compliance with state law and rule.” School Board member Sarah Leonardi said she swore and oath to provide a safe and secure system of free public education. Broward Schools began classes on August 18. On Monday, the district reported 553 coronavirus infections in its schools including 350 students and 205 employees. There are about 4,000 students and employees in quarantine. Vickie Cartwright, interim superintendent said that wearing face coverings is an important mitigation tool. |
| More young people from COVID-19 As more children and teenagers return to school and spending time with large groups of people, more COVID-19 cases are appearing among the young. Teenagers now have the highest positivity rates. A growing number are suffering severe cases of COVID-19 and being hospitalized. The positivity rate for teenagers is now 23 percent, more than five times what it was on June 1. For the past two weeks, teenagers from age 12 to 19 have had the highest positivity rate of any age group. Florida reported 54,032 new cases in teens for the past three weeks as large school districts including Broward opened the schools. For the week ending August 19, the number of cases in teens were up by 16 percent while cases in all other age groups fell by three percent or remained the same, according to the Florida Department of Health. School activities such as sports and clubs and large gathering points such as cafeterias encourage the spread. |
| Mask mandate situation Interim Superintendent Dr. Vickie L. Cartwright issued a statement on the mask situation on August 30. Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Board of education have reduced state funding to the Broward District in the amount of the salaries of the 8 Broward School Board members who voted in favor of a mask mandate. “Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) and the Broward County School Board believe we are in compliance. In the spirit of cooperation, the District is continuing to comply with the sanction imposed by Florida’s Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran regarding daily reporting of students who face a consequence for not wearing a mask. The health and safety of our students, teachers and staff continue to be our main priorities. As such, BCPS will continue to mandate masks, knowing the data shows they help minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. As previously stated, this decision will be reviewed by the School Board after Labor Day as conditions may change and modification may be appropriate.” Dr. Vickie L. Cartwright, Interim Superintendent |
