Biden admin backs Texas, Florida districts on mask mandates
Associated PressWASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday offered its full-throated support for local cities and school boards in Texas and Florida that are defying orders by their Republican governors that prohibit mask-wearing mandates in schools. Cardona also noted that federal COVID-19 relief funds for schools could be used to fill any financial gaps caused by penalties imposed on local school districts by state leaders. Use your power to save lives.” Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has said he may recommend the state’s Board of Education withhold the salaries of the superintendent and school board members of districts that have instituted mask-mandates. Cardona wrote that “any threat by Florida to withhold salaries from superintendents and school board members who are working to protect students and educators can be addressed using funds at the sole and complete discretion of Florida school districts.” In addition to prohibiting mask mandates, Abbott’s administration has said that schools do not need to conduct contact tracing for potential COVID-19 infections.
History of this topic
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