School Mask Mandate Approved, Medical Waiver Needed To Opt Out

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL — Going against an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis, the School Board of Miami-Dade County approved a face mask mandate ahead of the new school year, which starts Monday.

In a 7-1 vote, board members approved the mandate, which requires all students and staff of Miami-Dade County Public Schools to wear a mask in district facilities and on buses.

Lubby Navarro was the only board member to vote against the mask requirement.

To opt out of the mask requirement, families must obtain a medical waiver or religious accommodation.

Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has been a vocal supporter of masks at schools during the current COVID-19 surge throughout Florida.

Earlier Wednesday, ahead of the school board’s meeting, he hinted to the State Board of Education that Miami-Dade school — the largest district in Florida — would do “the right thing,” the Miami Herald reported.

On Monday night, a medical task force in the county advised the school board to adopt a mask mandate for the 2021-22 school year as COVID-19’s delta variant hits South Florida hard, the Herald reported.