South Florida School Districts consider mask wearing requirements
From David Volz
Students in South Florida schools may have the option to wear masks this fall when school resumes in classrooms. The Centers for Disease Control issued guidelines stating that those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 don’t need to wear masks on school campuses.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a State Board of Education meeting that students should not be forced to wear masks but has not signed an order requiring that mask wearing be optional. The Broward County Public School district is still in the process of deciding its policy for mask wearing in the fall. The matter will be discussed at an upcoming meeting on July 27. Under current Broward Schools policy, no student or teacher is allowed on a district school campus without a mask.
For Miami Dade County Public Schools students, wearing masks will be optional. Students at Palm Beach County Schools will also have the option to wear masks. Palm Beach Superintendent Donald Fennoy has said that masks will be optional in the fall because vaccines are readily available and Gov. DeSantis is opposed to making masks mandatory.
The CDC made its recommendations during a national vaccination campaign in which children as young as 12 can receive a COVD-19 vaccination and a general decline in the number of people hospitalized because of COVID-19. The CDC is not advising schools to require shots for teachers and students who are vaccine eligible. The CDC is asking that schools space students three feet apart in classrooms. It is not asking for distancing among fully vaccinated students and teachers. There could be problems at middle schools where some students are eligible for vaccines and others are not.
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Pompano Beach to offer free trees
The City of Pompano Beach’s annual tree give away will be hosted at the City Nursery on Saturday, July 17th. The nursery is located at 1190 NE 3rd street. Gates will open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 3:00 p.m. Parking will be in the lot immediately north of the nursery.
The City of Pompano Beach has participated in the extremely popular free tree giveaway program for over 15 years. The trees were originally purchased by the Public Works Nursery and will be given away two trees per household on a first-come, first-serve basis.
To qualify for a free tree, you must live within the City limits and provide identification such as a driver’s license or water bill to verify your residency. Each resident will be given a choice among many varieties including Foxtail Palms, Silver Buttonwood, Holly, Gumbo Limbo, Purple Tabebuia, Slash Pine, Bald Cypress, Each tree will come with a planting guide.
