Orange County teachers union pushes for mandatory mask mandate

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Classroom Teachers Association is calling on the school board to bring back a mandatory mask mandate.

The union met in front of district headquarters on Monday. A group gathered with the teacher’s association, asking the board to do what they consider absolutely necessary at this point with the number of cases being recorded throughout the district.

Happening Now: President of the Orange County Teacher’s association calling on school board to institute a mandatory mask mandate, despite the governor’s promise to take away funding if they do. @WFTV pic.twitter.com/Fcux5PJ5Oi
— Ashley Edlund (@AshleyEdlund) August 23, 2021

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Since Aug. 3, when preplanning began for teachers, there have been 1,801 recorded cases of COVID-19 in the schools.

The union said that number is far higher than what it was seeing last year.

There is now a mask mandate district wide that states all employees and visitors must wear one. Students are required too, but parents can opt out.

READ: 20% of all new Orange County COVID-19 cases in children ages 5-14

The mandate started Aug. 10 and will be in effect for 30 days. The district said it’s going to monitor trends during that time.

The school board could discuss the issue tomorrow during their regularly scheduled meeting.

READ: UCF students return to in-person classes for the 1st time in almost a year

Video: Here’s how quarantining will work in Orange County schools this school year The state rolled out new guidance on how long infected students will need to stay out of school and exactly what criteria they have to meet before returning. (Lauren Seabrook, WFTV.com)