Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s ban on school mask warrants will remain in effect as the measure faces legal challenges in the courts, an appeals court ruled Friday. The order reverses a judge’s decision to place the governor’s ban hold on.
“When an official or public agency requests a review of the appeal, as is the case in this case, there is a presumption according to the rule in favor of a stay, and the stay should only be vacated. for the most compelling reasons, “reads the order of the Tallahassee District First Court of Appeal.
“Given the presumption against unemployment of the automatic stay, the stay should have been left in place pending review of the appeal.”
The decision is the latest development in the showdown between DeSantis and local school districts, some of which have defied the governor’s order and imposed masked warrants. In response, the Florida Board of Education imposed funding cuts on district school board members who withdrew from their mask mandate policies.
The Department of Education on Thursday announced a new grant program designed to provide additional funding to schools that are punished for enforcing mask mandates. Local schools and individual staff can apply for grants, which according to the department will occur on a “continuous” basis.
“All students across the country deserve the opportunity to return to school in person safely this fall, and all families should be confident that their school is implementing policies that keep their children safe,” he said. the United States Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona. “We should thank the districts for using proven strategies that will keep schools open and safe, without punishing them.”
In July, DeSantis signed an executive order prohibiting public schools from requiring facial masks. But last month, Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper said the governor’s order was unconstitutional and allowed school mask mandates to be advanced.
DeSantis reacted to Friday’s decision Twitter: “There is no surprise here: the first DCA has restored the right of parents to make the best decisions for their children. I will continue to fight for the rights of parents.”