Mask mandate complies with state law, Hillsborough school district tells commissioner

Hillsborough sticks with mask mandate

Aaron Mesmer reports

TAMPA, Fla. - Two weeks after the Hillsborough County School Board passed a 30-day mask mandate, Chairwoman Lynn Gray says the policy is working.

Since the district approved the new policy on August 18, student and staff quarantines are down 15% and the number of positive COVID-19 cases is down 23%.

The Hillsborough school district is now standing firm on that decision.

Hillsborough and Sarasota counties had until 5 p.m. Wednesday to either respond to Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran or comply with the governor's executive order banning mask mandates.

In a letter filed late Wednesday, the Hillsborough school district told Corcoran it believes its mandate is consistent with the law. They also note the order does not prohibit a district from requiring a doctor's note, which Hillsborough is doing.

Corcoran has disagreed with this and says the decision to mask needs to be left up to parents, not doctors.

Corcoran is threatening to withhold funding equal to the school board salaries for Hillsborough and Sarasota schools, which was also facing a 5 p.m. deadline for its similar mandate.

Lynn Gray says district leaders from 10 school systems discussed how to respond.

"I think it means a lot for the public to know that we're all in this together. And we're not trying to go against the law, but rather we're trying to stay within the law and at the same time protect the children," she explained.

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Last Friday, a judge ruled the governor's order is unconstitutional and penalizing a district for mandating masks violates Florida law. The state is appealing that ruling.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education says the state can continue to dock funding because, "a signed written order has not been issued" by the court.

It's unclear if those penalties will continue even after the order has been signed.

There was no immediate word from Sarasota about their response.