But Discussions About Discussions As Mask Mandate Ends…
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
UPDATED AT 1:41 PM Sunday, November 28th, to reflect official comment from school district.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Masks are officially ”optional” when students return to school Monday in the Palm Beach County School District, but there are new questions about whether that relaxed policy is smart — or long term — as fear over the Omicron variant sets in.
While no cases of Omicron have been reported, yet, in Florida, the strain which came to light on Thursday is already leading to widespread concern. New York declared a state of emergency over the new strain.
Sources within the Palm Beach County School District tell BocaNewsNow.com that officially, masks will be optional for students when school resumes on Monday, but “there are discussions about discussions” if Omicron is reported in Florida. “It’s a matter of when, not if,” said our source of mandatory masking returning to the school district.
Under the new policy, parents are not required to send a letter or sign a document to opt-out their children from wearing masks. Students will be encouraged to wear masks, but no longer told that it’s a requirement.
“The hope,” said our source, “is that students will keep doing the right thing. We found that overwhelmingly, despite the hype, students wanted to wear masks and wanted to keep their friends safe.”
Early Sunday afternoon, the Palm Beach County School District issued this statement to BocaNewsNow.com: “While facial coverings are optional as the result of legislation signed on November 19 by Governor Ron DeSantis, they are strongly encouraged while inside Palm Beach County school District property and while riding on school buses.”
