TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The first day of school in Leon County is just over three weeks away. On Monday, city leaders, parents, nonprofits, and activists gathered outside Tallahassee's City Hall to urge the Leon County School Board to require masks in schools.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all individuals, vaccinated or not, should remain masked in a school setting.
The CDC recommends that all unvaccinated persons should remain masked while indoors. Children under 12 can not get vaccinated yet.
Attendees include Tallahassee Community Action Committee, Leon for a Safe Return to Campus, Tallahassee National Organization for Women, Physicians for Social Responsibility Florida, and Commissioner Jeremy Matlow.
"This about not only protecting our children but protecting our entire community," said Matlow. "Anybody can be a carrier. Anybody can spread the virus. And as the virus spreads we're seeing the real health implications to real families in our community"
On April 14, 2021, Education Commissioner Corcoran sent a letter to all school districts asking them to lift mask mandates.
The next day, Leon County Schools Superintendent, Rocky Hanna said he thought lifting the mandate was irresponsible.
It’s premature," said Hanna. "This is an attempt to unravel what we started in August (2020) and this isn’t the time to do it. We’re not changing a thing now. If we end up going to court over it, we’re going to court.”
On June 11, Superintendent Hanna announced in a Facebook live video that masks will be optional from that day on.
Leon County teacher Sarah Marquez says Hanna didn't factor in those with compromised immune systems into his decision.
"While life may return to normal for some vaccinated individuals, life is nowhere near normal for those of us with compromised immune systems," said Marquez. "When the district made the decision to lift mask mandates they have put LCS employees like myself at a much greater risk of a breakthrough infection."
In a statement Leon County Schools said...."Though not anticipated at this moment, LCS will swiftly notify our community if there are any changes to the mask policy in the future."
The next school board meeting is Tuesday at 6PM.
