Miami-Dade, Broward To Follow CDC Guidelines Despite Florida Education Boss Asking School Districts To Make Mask Use Voluntary
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - South Florida schools plan to welcome all students back to the classroom next school year.
The state, however, is asking for a change.
Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran is focusing on masks.
In a memo, school superintendents Wednesday night said looking at Florida schools, "...the data show us that districts' face-covering policies do not impact the spread of the virus." He goes on to say about masks"...we ask that districts...revise their policy to be voluntary..."
"In this district, we've always followed the guidance of the CDC as well as our public health officials," said Broward School Superintendent Robert Runcie.
"I want to be hopeful but still well-grounded on information and data specific to our community," added Miami-Dade School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
Both districts say their decisions on whether or not to continue a mask mandate will be based on science.
"It's difficult to predict, at this point, considering the summer months are still ahead and during that time we will continue to monitor positivity rates, we will continue to monitor the evolution of the availability of vaccines," Carvalho said.
"I can't give you a commitment one way or the other other than tell you we're going to continue what we've always done and rely on the guidance we're getting from the CDC, making sure what we're doing is aligned with Broward County," Runcie said.
Teachers are keeping a close eye on this too. United Teachers of Dade released a video statement.
"We know and understand how important it is, not only to follow the CDC guidelines and listen to our medical experts but obviously to follow science and adhere to guidelines. We're not yet out of the woods," warned UTD President Karla Hernandez-Mats.
The Broward Teacher's Union is pledging to work with the district.
"We know that schools are going to be opening full, 100%, next school year," said BTU President Anna Fusco. "The conversations, collaborative planning, not building the plane as we're flying it, is going to be the best course of action to make sure when we get back into the schools everyone knows it's going to be a safe environment," she said.
Both districts say they have several months to make decisions since classes do not begin until August.