FLEMING ISLAND – The school district has reaffirmed that it will not impose a requirement to wear masks in classrooms, especially in light of the millions in education funding it could lose and a punishment.

Gov. Ron DeSantis created an executive order that threatens school districts that enacts a mask mandate with a loss of funding, and it equates to a lot of money. It’s so much money, in fact, the Clay County School District wouldn’t be able to operate, according to school board member Janice Kerekes.

“If it were just me, Janice Kerekes, picking, I’d like to see us have masks, but I’m not willing to put our funding at risk,” Kerekes said. “We have to follow the law. It’s $260-something-millions of funding that we would lose if the governor followed through on his threat to withhold the funding. We can’t run our school district without that funding.”

This discussion was spurred by Clay County Education Association president, Vickie Kidwell, who asked the school board to hold another conversation about a possible mask mandate.

“I know our hands are tied,” Kidwell said. “Doing the right thing is never easy. Right now, other districts are making the decision to choose to stick their neck out for their kids’ health. They’ve made the decision to mandate masks unless you have a medical opt-out. They’re taking a great risk that I know the superintendent and the school board doesn’t want to do. I get that...but I couldn’t sleep at night if I didn’t ask to have this conversation again.”

Kidwell said the conversation is important because the health of students is under the purview of the school district and the school board, not the governor’s office. She said it’s the districts’ job to protect its students to the best of their ability.

Superintendent David Broskie said he doesn’t feel masks are the silver bullet against COVID-19. He said there are other districts with mask mandates who have had greater COVID-19 positivity percentages. He said that’s why the district’s Smart Restart plan is important because it’s not just one step to prevent COVID-19, but multiple such as electrostatic sprayers, social distancing, mask encouragement, more sanitation, individualized school plans and more.

School board member Ashley Gilhousen agreed and said it’s important to look at the data. 

“I think your head is in the right direction, superintendent,” Gilhousen said. We have to make decisions like this on data. There has to be a documentable justifiable reason to break the law and I don’t know that there is one. When it comes to making decisions that impact the health and welfare of every student and staff member in this school district, it has to be data driven. It can’t be personal preference.”

The school board then reaffirmed masks are heavily encouraged and recommended, but not mandated. The board also said parents should pre-screen their children before they come to school. Board chair Mary Bolla said “if you see something, say something,” in regards to whether or not parents are happy and satisfied with their child’s school’s individualized health plan.

The county possibly will have two mobile COVID-19 testing units go live soon. CCSD chief of staff, Terri Dennis, who is the district’s point lead for COVID-19 and working with the Clay County Florida Health Department, said it will allow Clay students and district staff to essentially skip the lines. If they show proof, they’ll be fast-tracked to the front to get tested as quickly as possible.

In other business, Broskie announced that in-school attendance was up with only 500 students in the district’s online Clay Virtual Academy option, compared to 2,600 this time last year. He also revealed that Orange Park High would finally be getting a new air conditioning unit in its gym, something that’s been needed for years. Middleburg High and Lakeside Junior High also are soon to receive new bathroom renovations soon.