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As you may know, the rate of COVID-19 infection in Palm Beach County has been fluid, with a rapid increase in confirmed cases and hospitalizations in recent days.
On August 4, when I announced that face coverings for students and staff would be strongly encouraged but not mandatory, this decision was based on the Governor’s Order in Council prohibiting our school district from enforcing a face covering requirement. for the students.
As you may know, two major decisions, which impact Florida school districts, were made yesterday at the state level. The Florida Board of Education (FLDOE) has adopted emergency rules that impact the opening of our schools, particularly student attendance and ensuring that homework will be provided to students in quarantine.
In addition, the Florida Department of Health (FLDOH) also adopted an emergency rule [r20.rs6.net] which was signed by the Florida Surgeon General demanding that parents have the option of opting out if face coverings are required by a school district. FLDOH has also clarified the quarantine of students who are COVID-19 positive.
Parents and Guardians, I have heard your passionate pleas on both sides of this debate at school board meetings. I have also read your messages by e-mail. I have taken all your contributions into account. However, I must make decisions that protect the health and well-being of our students and staff.
To determine how best to achieve this, I consulted with members of the local and national medical community, considered the advice of local pediatricians who are extremely concerned about the health of our children, and I discussed this critical decision with our school. members of the board of directors.
After careful consideration, I am exercising my authority as superintendent to change the district’s COVID-19 policies.
This means, effective now, that I require face covers inside schools and on buses for all students attending schools operated by the Palm Beach County District, unless the parent / guardian of the student chooses to opt out of this requirement. To opt out, parents who do not wish their student to wear a face covering must send a signed note to the school informing the child’s first term teacher of this decision.
In addition, in the immediate future, all district staff will be required to wear face coverings indoors and on district transport without the possibility of opting out.
Visitors are also required to wear face coverings indoors on district property.
As a school district, we will continue to work closely with the medical community to monitor the rate of COVID-19 infection and the level of transmission throughout our community. As the landscape of the pandemic is continually changing, I will review the facial coverage requirement every 30 days and adjust accordingly.
Be aware that the school district remains committed to many other layers of the COVID-19 transmission mitigation protocol that were also in place last year. We will do everything possible to provide a safe learning environment for your children and our staff.
Finally, parents and guardians, please keep your children at home when they are sick. We must all work together to keep our community safe.
Respectfully,
Michael J. Burke
Superintendent
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