CLAY COUNTY – School will reopen on Aug. 25 and things are going to be a little different.

Students throughout the county haven’t been in school since early March after brick and mortar schools around the state closed as a result of COVID-19. The Clay County School Board has been wrestling with how to begin the 2020-21 school year. Last week it decided to have students return to class with face coverings being mandatory for third-through-12th grades.

Clay Today asked its readers on Facebook how they feel about this mask mandate for its weekly Facebook Question of the Week. Here’s what they had to say:

“I would be comfortable [with] full brick and mortar with zero restrictions,” resident Scott Harrington said. “Avert the ‘new normal.’”

Harrington didn’t offer any reasoning as to why he believes schools should open without restrictions, but Chris Swain found himself agreeing with Harrington that masks shouldn’t be worn. Swain said masks and social distancing can lead to depression and low self-esteem, something he doesn’t want to see children go through.

He said the survival rate for those who have contracted the virus is 99.99% and that the virus is more hysteria than anything else.

“Kids with masks and social distancing is a quick way to depression and low self-esteem,” Swain said. “Doesn’t seem like mental health is being cared about at all in this conversation. Depressed kids or risking infection with a virus that has a 99.99% survival rate in the state of Florida. I think all of this COVID-19 hysteria is going way too far.”

Resident Debra Woodruff picked up on Swain’s trail of mental health.

“Any doctor will tell you what stress can do to a person, mentally and physically” Woodruff said. “When anyone is stressed, you will get sick more often. Healthy people should not wear masks. Usually, a mask should be worn if you are sick to not further spread.”

Lee Smith was the only reader that responded with a different line of thinking. She said she hopes the “no worry” attitude of others doesn't cause a spike in the coronavirus cases.

“I worry about the teachers, aides and bus drivers,” Smith said. “I just pray this ‘no worry’ attitude will not cause the numbers to spike. I’m just glad my granddaughter is not forced to go, since she has asthma.”

Will your child be returning to a school campus this summer or will their learning take place online? How do you feel about the enforcement of masks for third grade and higher? Let us know on our Facebook Question of the Week posted on Facebook on July 30.