TALLAHASSEE, Fla, — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried plans to release COVID-19 data for schools that she says has been hidden by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Fried announced a virtual press conference to be held early Thursday morning where she plans to discuss COVID-19 data for Florida school districts.
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According to Fried’s office, the press conference was scheduled specifically to precede a state Board of Education meeting Thursday afternoon where board members will consider punishments for 11 school districts- including Orange and Brevard Counties- where mask requirements have been enacted.
A Florida Department of Health emergency rule requires schools to offer an option for parents to opt their children out of the mandates.
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At their meeting Thursday, Florida Board of Education members will consider sanctions for schools where mask requirements with no opt-out were passed that include the withholding of state funds equal to a percentage of the board members’ salaries and any federal grant funds awarded to the district.
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