Seminole County schools to move to mask optional for students, staff and others

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Officials with Seminole County Public Schools announced Friday that the district is going to move to a mask-optional environment starting in November.

District leaders said the mask optional change will go into effect on Nov. 1.

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Officials said the change is “a result of the current status of community transmission of COVID-19 cases within Seminole County.”

The SCPS student face covering rules, which include, parental opt-out and campus visitor suspension procedures, will not be extended beyond the Oct. 29 expiration date, officials said.

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“These have been challenging weeks as we have navigated the fluidity of the impact of the delta variant, and we thank you for your support and cooperation throughout the process,” a school spokesperson said.

District leaders said the current mask and visitor procedures will remain in place through Oct. 29.

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The face covering rules for all SCPS employees, vendors and contractors will be suspended on Nov. 1.

School leaders said they continue to encourage care and caution as the district strives to achieve normalcy in these “unprecedented times.”

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