Corcoran announces withholding funds for Alachua, Broward Counties due to school mask mandates

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) – Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran announced Monday that the Florida Department of Education will withhold monthly salaries for school board members in Alachua and Broward Counties in accordance with instructions from the State Board of Education.

Corcoran and Governor Ron DeSantis argue that both districts have put in place a mandatory face mask policy that violates parenting rights by not allowing a parent or guardian to refuse their child, as required by Florida Department of Health Emergency Rule 64DER21-12.

On August 20, 2021, the State Board of Education issued an order urging the Alachua and Broward Counties school districts to comply with state laws and regulations; however, both districts refused.

The Alachua School District responded to Corcoran’s August 26, 2021 letter that the district had not “enforced an unlawful mandate policy of face covering against a student, including but not limited to cases where a student was sent home, reassigned, disciplined, suspended, isolated, stigmatized, cautioned, or harassed for failing to comply with the illegal mandate guidelines of the Alachua County School Board. “

ACPS response August 26, 2021 from WTXL ABC27 on Scribd

“We will fight to protect the right of parents to make health decisions about their children. They know what’s best for their children. Unacceptable are the politicians who have raised their right hands and sworn to uphold the constitution, but do not do so. Simply put, elected officials have no choice but to choose which laws to obey, “Corcoran said.

“Our school board believes the governor is transgressing his authority,” said Dr. Rosalind Osgood, Broward School Board Chairwoman. “The Florida Constitution gives local school boards the power to issue guidelines for local school districts.

The Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education reserve the right and obligation to impose additional sanctions and additional enforcement measures to bring any school district into compliance with state laws and regulations.

-Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran

Districts are also prohibited from drawing dollars elsewhere in their budget to make up for losses in an attempt by the state to minimize the impact on student education.

“Funds withheld will continue on a monthly basis until every school authority complies with state laws and regulations,” Corcoran’s statement said.

The Centers for Disease Control continues to recommend masking the vaccinated and unvaccinated in schools. Officials believe this will slow the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant across the state and across the country.

The White House has announced that it will support the schools in their resistance.

Corcoran’s order has yet to be signed, meaning it is not yet law but is expected to come out Tuesday.

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