Pasco Schools Plan To Mandate Masks

From Pasco County Schools:

July 14, 2020

Pasco County Schools plans to require that all students, staff, and visitors wear masks or face coverings when on a school campus or other school district property in the fall.

Superintendent Kurt Browning has placed the topic on the agenda for discussion at the July 21 virtual School Board meeting, which will be held via telephone. The Superintendent intends to bring an emergency rule to the School Board on July 28 for a vote to formalize the mandate.

“Every decision is being made with input from parents, teachers, staff, the School Board, and health professionals,” Browning said. “This is an essential component in our strategy to create a safe and healthy environment for our students and staff.”

The proposed rule describes what qualifies as a mask or face covering and under what circumstances the mask can be removed. It also describes how the school district will make accommodations for students or staff members who have a medical condition that would prevent them from wearing a mask or face covering.

In addition to the mask requirement, the school district is employing several strategies to provide for a safe environment, such as social distancing, enhanced cleaning, and protocols for what to do if or when a student or staff member gets sick.

A summary of the proposed rule can be found here.

A video of Superintendent Browning explaining some details of the mandate can be found here.

This press release was produced by Pasco County Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.