Volusia County Schools weighs future of optional mask policy during special board meeting

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Parents both for and against masks are planning to address the Volusia County School Board on Tuesday as they decide whether to keep their mask policy optional.

Parents started showing up around 4 p.m. to the special board meeting.

There will be two hours of public comment for the meeting as parents debate the mask issue.

READ: Volusia County Sheriff offers incentives to encourage deputies to get COVID-19 vaccines

The board could go in a number of directions. They could keep the policy the same, which is optional, or they could go the way of other school districts and issue a mask mandate for all students with a medical opt-out.

In the first week of school, the district logged 358 cases compared to the final week of the school year in June.

Jenifer Kelly, who represents Moms for Liberty, has two students in Volusia County Schools. She said parents should have a choice.

READ: Volusia County students return to the classroom

“This is ongoing,” she said. “In June, I think they voted on the optional (policy), and we are only in the third week of school, and they are already coming back with the mask mandate.”

The special meeting is in the wake of the judge ruling against Gov. Ron DeSantis.

READ: Osceola County Schools rejects mask mandate as confusion mounts

VIDEO: Volusia County School board holds emergency meeting to consider mask mandate Volusia County Schools is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss a possible mask mandate. (Mike Springer, WFTV.com/WFTV)

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