Superintendent accepts recommendation that Miami-Dade Public Schools implement face mask mandate

MIAMI – Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho has said he agrees with recommendations from health experts that Miami-Dade County public schools are implementing a face mask warrant with opt-out medical accommodation from August 23.

The Miami-Dade County School Board will discuss and finalize the matter at its meeting on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Miami-Dade County Public School students begin the 2021-22 school year within a week. New teachers were due to show up on August 11 and the first regular teacher planning takes place on Wednesday.

Based on the evidence on vaccine breakthrough cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of the vaccination status on July 27.

According to the CDC, the level of transmissibility remains high in Miami-Dade. The positivity rate for cases from Aug.6 to 12 was 20.3% in Miami-Dade, according to the Florida Department of Health. The Delta variant is the main driver of the current COVID outbreak.

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Broward County Public Schools will begin the new 2021-22 school year on August 18 with a face mask term. Members of the Broward County School Board first approved a universal face mask warrant on July 28.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on July 30 to protect the freedom of parents to withdraw from school district face mask warrants and tasked the Florida Department of Education to enforce the order.

Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has threatened to penalize superintendents and school board members who defy the order. U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona condemned DeSantis’ order and FDOE threats and offered to help school districts that face penalties with federal COVID relief funds.

Afternoon report

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