Seminole County Public Schools to consider face mask mandate for students

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — In less than two weeks, fewer than half of Seminole County’s public school students will go back into a classroom.

About 43% of families have chosen the face-to-face option, 30% of parents chose the Seminole Connect option, about 16% chose the virtual school and about 10% chose a hybrid option.

A district spokesperson said they are still trying to reach a number of parents who didn’t choose an option to make sure face-to-face learning is what they want.

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“My understanding is as of last Friday, they still have about 10,000 kids that they don’t know what they are going to do. So the schools don’t know how to program them yet because they don’t know what or when they are going to be doing or where they are going to be going to school,” said Dan Smith, president of Seminole Education Association.

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Seminole County Public Schools is also considering a face mask mandate for students who opted for face-to-face learning, and information is expected on the district’s website on Tuesday.

Parents will have the option after reading the emergency mask policy to move from face-to-face learning to Seminole Connect if they are not comfortable with sending their children to school.

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The school year starts Aug. 17.

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