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SARASOTA, Florida (WWSB) – The Sarasota County School District Board has approved a mask mandate for the district.
Board members voted for the third option, which would be a mask warrant for all for 90 days with only one medical exemption. This policy is for all students, staff, providers and parents.
If the positivity rate in Sarasota County drops below 8%, the term will rise. If the positivity rate in the county increases by more than 10%, the term will be re-enacted.
The bill went from 3 to 2, with Bridget Ziegler and Karen Rose voting no. Shirley Brown, Jane Goodwin and Tom Edwards voted yes.
The board meeting lasted nearly five hours as board members sat down and listened to the comments from the audience. Initially, the board did not allow a public comment section, but after a public outburst and a brief recess, they decided to continue with public comment.
They heard several parents, some in favor of the warrant and others against it. Originally, there were three options the board considered.
The first option would be a mask warrant for students, where parents could choose not to participate. The second option would be for employees only. And then the third option, which was originally a 90-day mask warrant with no deactivation option, except for medical reasons.
After hours of debate and several amendments, the third option became what it is now, which remains the 90-day mask mandate, but allows school districts to stop it before 90 days if the county meets certain requirements. requirements.
Board members did not announce when this mask mandate would take effect. But it is expected to take effect immediately.
We will have more information as it becomes available.
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