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The return to school in the state of Florida began this week before the decree of Governor Ron DeSantis that directs the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Education to issue regulations that empower parents to decide whether or not their children will wear the mask in class.
The Florida Governor announced that he will suspend the salaries of school leaders who defy local government orders. This was announced in a statement by her spokesperson, Christiana Pushaw.
There will be a strict adjustment with financial consequences for school leaders who defy the governor’s rules, withholding pay from superintendents or school board members. Always protecting students and teachers who are not the “Decision Makers.
Before school started, schools in some Florida counties wanted a mandate requiring the use of a mask, which the state governor opposed.
That is why DeSantis has been in the news in recent weeks by not supporting the use of the “mandatory” mask, and not only in Florida schools, but also in the tourist area with which has a legal battle with the cruise companies that departs from Miami for wanting to force passengers to be vaccinated to board.
In education, some counties have followed the governor’s recommendations, for example, Broward County , Florida’s largest school district, reversed its decision to require the use of a mask. Le s was extremely concerned that DeSantis threatened to cancel funding for schools.
For his part, Duval Public Schools is allowing parents to decide whether to send their children to schools with a mask or not. While in Alachua County, the mask use mandate will be limited to only the first two weeks of school, that is, the first 14 days of the school year.
However, several legal experts have analyzed the DeSantis decree and explain that there is not really a “prohibition” on the mandates of use of masks, but rather it is a political position and not a legal directive.
In this regard, Paul Callan said on CNN that “This is a loose riff on the governor’s political opinions (…), full of clauses ‘Considering’ totally unenforceable ” . For the lawyer, it is more a way to get headlines from the press and Twitter.
On the other hand, regarding the threats to suspend funding to schools or salaries to teachers or school leaders, Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Luke Wake says “not sure of the extent of the threats from DeSantis,” and considers it to be something that “ it probably relies on its statutory authority to withhold state funds. ”.
The Florida Governor’s spokeswoman insists that these are rules that “They do not prohibit masks in schools but will require that parents have the right to choose not to use them for their children. Expected that school districts allow parents to make this choice. ”
This is the first week of school, and the rebound in COVID cases – 19 in Florida continues, DeSantis is not partisan or to “oblige” but if you have asked Floridians to get vaccinated. So far the 50% of the population, that is, some 10 millions of people in the state are fully vaccinated.