Tension erupts within the state and as two South Floridian districts set out to implement rules that will require masks for the 2021-2022 school year. This comes weeks after Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 21-175, allowing parents to decide whether their children should wear face coverings.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools has become another district to defy the state’s opposition and approve a face mask mandate following the Broward County School Board’s unanimous 8-1 vote to challenge DeSantis’s executive order. Alachua and Hillsborough Boards also launched plans to initiate these protocols.
“Effective tomorrow, facial coverings are required for all students, employees, volunteers, and visitors while in Miami-Dade County Public Schools facilities,” M-DCPS announced on Twitter.
Public schools in the district will officially reopen this Monday, August 23rd. On Wednesday afternoon, the M-DCPS School Board voted 7-1 in a meeting, opting to create a policy designed to protect students, teachers, and school administration against Covid-19.
District 7 board member Lubby Navaro was the only individual to vote against it. Navarro, who is also the director of governmental affairs for the Memorial Healthcare System, has shared anti-masking sentiments on social media a day prior to voting. She received backlash within hours from hundreds of parents and commentators who shared overwhelming disagreement.
“Allowing anti science parents to choose not to mask their kids puts my kids at risk. Your entire job is to keep my kids safe. This is a dereliction of duty, please reconsider at least until kids under are able to be vaccinated,” a parent commented under Navarro’s tweet.
Miami-Dade could face legal repercussions from the state, all of which may include holding back funds, removing officers, cutting salaries, reviewing conduct and as well reviewing how money was spent on activities deemed political. The latter two may determine whether some board members will lose their jobs or deal with extra legal penalties.
Florida’s Board of Education have unanimously determined Alachua and Broward County to be penalized for similar orders on school safety requirements. Community leader and former Congresswoman for Florida’s 26th congressional district, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, commended the Miami Superintendent for approaching student health with significance and priority despite forthcoming obstacles.
“Thank you @MDCPSBoard & @MiamiSup for putting our children’s health first,” she said.
“You conducted today’s hearing with the utmost respect to all present and w/ professionalism despite the chaos a small minority tried to bring into the hearing.”
Alberto Carvalho said that he will take advice from health experts, even at the cost of his own salary. Students do have the option to opt out of the policy for medical causes, however.
For MDCPS, it seems, their stance on mask mandates remains firm. Carvalho indicated that the district will not back down when it comes to doing the right thing for the children’s safety.
“I have felt fear in my life. When you’re homeless under a bridge, you fear. The conditions before me, today, other than the impact on health, do not cause fear in me,” he said.
More information on the 2021-2022 safety protocols are to be announced as public schools come closer to reopening next week.
