Florida approves private school vouchers if parents says kid feels bullied by district’s mask rules

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — FRIDAY UPDATE: Florida has approved private school vouchers if parents say their children feel bullied by a district’s mask-wearing rules, the Associated Press reported.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Florida Department of Education has an emergency meeting scheduled Friday to discuss vouchers for students at schools with mask requirements.

The Department of Education said this would give parents a tool to transfer their kids to another school if a mask mandate poses a health threat to their student.

The state would use funding from the Hope Scholarship, which is normally reserved to help victims of bullying go to a different school.

In a statement on the meeting notice, the DOE said, “The agency finds that the potential for student learning loss and educational disruption with schools starting next week, creates an immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare of students and requires emergency action.

”The meeting comes as districts like Duval County Public Schools voted to pass a mask requirement with an opt-out option for parents.

DCPS is the first in Northeast Florida to make a move towards mandating masks.

In Clay County Thursday, several parents spoke for and against a mandate during the last school board meeting before school starts.

”It keeps me awake every night,” Fernando Vizcarrondo, a father of three, said. One of his sons is under 12 and not eligible for the vaccine.Vizcarrondo came down with COVID-19 in March of 2020 and still deals with effects from the virus.

He was induced into a coma for three weeks of the two months he was in the hospital.

Vizcarrondo also lost part of his feet because of complications due to the virus and temporarily lost his job as a Navy pilot.

”This is real. It happened to me. I was healthy,” he said.

Several parents also spoke out against a mask mandate.

Julie Smith said her son struggled with mental health issues because of wearing a mask in the classroom last year.

”Everyone should have a choice for their child — if they want their child to wear a mask, I feel like they should be able to,” she told Action News Jax’s Robert Grant.

“My child is not going to wear a mask this year — so we will find out what happens.”

The Clay County School Board did not make a move to change the mask option Thursday night.

They will be strongly recommended for staff and students next week.

”Your comments were heard tonight. So many of us feel that our hands are tied,” Mary Bolla, District 4, said.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order barring schools from requiring masks.

The DOE’s emergency meeting will begin tomorrow at 11 a.m.

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