DeSantis Education Dept. Puts Broward County School Board on Notice After it Defies Governor: Drop Mask Mandate or Lose Salaries

Governor Ron DeSantis’ Education Department on Tuesday evening put the Broward County School Board on notice after it voted 8-1 to keep its mask mandate in place.

The Broward County School Board defied DeSantis’ executive order banning mask mandates for students.

Ron DeSantis on Monday said he will withhold the salaries of superintendents and school board members.

“With respect to enforcing any financial consequences for noncompliance of state law regarding these rules and ultimately the rights of parents to make decisions about their children’s education and health care decisions, it would be the goal of the State Board of Education to narrowly tailor any financial consequences to the offense committed. For example, the State Board of Education could move to withhold the salary of the district superintendent or school board members, as a narrowly tailored means to address the decision-makers who led to the violation of law.”

Tuesday evening DeSantis’ Education Department told the Broward County School Board it has until Friday to drop the mask mandate or else lose your paychecks.

Fox News reported:

The Florida Department of Education threatened to withhold the salaries of the Broward County superintendent and the members of the school board after the board voted to defy Governor Ron DeSantis’ executive order barring mask mandates in schools.

“This letter is sent to express my grave concern regarding your district’s significant neglect in response to the recently adopted Emergency Rule,” Richard Corcoran, the DOE commissioner, wrote in a letter to the superintendent and chair of the school board. The order, which Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees issued on August 6, lays out clear “expectations for ensuring that any mandated mask policies imposed by a district or school ‘must allow for a parent or legal guardian of the student to opt-out the student from wearing a face covering or mask.’”

Corcoran announced that he would initiate an investigation, “demanding that you provide a written response by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 13.” Depending on the results of the investigation, “I may recommend to the State Board of Education that the Department withhold funds in an amount equal to the salaries for the Superintendent and all the members of the School Board,” he warned.

Photo of author
Cristina began writing for The Gateway Pundit in 2016 and she is now the Associate Editor.

You can email Cristina Laila here, and read more of Cristina Laila's articles here.

 

Thanks for sharing!