FL School District Hit With COVID-19 Outbreak, 6,000 Students And Teachers Forced To Quarantine

One of the largest school districts in Florida is calling an emergency board meeting to discuss mandatory mask policies as it struggles with a COVID-19 outbreak that has landed nearly 5,600 students and hundreds of teachers and workers in quarantine.

The outbreak across Hillsborough County Public Schools, which includes more than 300 schools and 233,000 students in Tampa, comes less than a week after students returned to in-person classes. Wednesday’s emergency meeting will focus on masks in schools, something that has already put the district at odds with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his ban on any such “mask mandates.”

Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Addison Davis had already defied DeSantis’ edict by requirement that all students wear masks, but provided parents the ability to “opt out” their child with a note. Davis said earlier this month that requiring masks was an important step for schools to take.

“While the outcome may be the same whether we make face coverings optional or required with an opt-out, we believe this decision continues to illustrate that Hillsborough County Public Schools takes public safety seriously.”

At the emergency meeting on Wednesday, the school board says discussions will be had to determine the best path forward for mitigating the spread of the virus among students and staff. Those conversations will also include whether to make mask wearing a requirement for everyone, including students and staff.

Despite schools across Florida having hundreds of students forced to quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19, DeSantis remains adamant in opposing any mask mandates.

He’s threatened to yank funding from schools that require masks. It has put him squarely at odds with the Biden administration, which has committed to using federal funds to make up for any financial shortfall districts face for ignoring DeSantis’ orders.