Florida’s education commissioner calls for schools to remove mask mandates in the fall

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida’s education commissioner wants all school districts to get rid of mask mandates.

Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said in a memo that masks “serve no remaining good” and said he wants them to be voluntary in schools by the fall.

Orange County school leaders said they know this is a hot topic, but were caught off-guard by the memo.

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School Board Member Melissa Byrd has two girls learning in-person right now. She said the policy will be addressed, but it’s too soon to make a decision.

“That’s four months away, a lot can change in four months,” Byrd said. “So it’s hard to say. In Orange County, we’re looking at positivity rates that are rising for five- to 14-year-olds right now.”

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Parent Patrick Moore said he was pleased to hear about Corcoran’s memo.

“If there’s a mask mandate in the fall, I’m moving to the islands, I’m out,” Moore said.

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In Central Florida, Lake County has already announced that its mask policy will be optional in the fall if data supports it.

The other seven districts say they’re waiting to see where things are closer to the beginning of the school year.