By Susan Hardee Steger
August 17, 2021
Tonight’s meeting of the Nassau County School Board began with comments from Nassau County School Superintendent Dr. Kathy Burns requesting the school board require students to wear masks unless parents choose an “opt-out” provision.
Burns brought this motion forward after discussion with numerous Nassau County and Camden County health professionals and physicians. When School Board Attorney Brett Steger was asked by Burns if the suggested motion was in compliance with Florida Governor Desantis’ executive order, Steger replied yes.
Parental opt-out forms will be available online through the Nassau County School Board website and paper copies will be available at schools. No medical reason or notary seal is required on the opt-out form.
Information on when the mask requirement will begin will be forthcoming. Mask requirements for teachers and staff will be subject to union negotiations.
Not only will masks be required by students in schools, but also on school buses.
During the evening, 42 individuals spoke before the board. 20 supported the use of masks, including 7 medical professionals, while 22 were opposed.
Once the vote was taken, the decision to require masks with an opt-out provision was unanimous.
Due to the Delta variant, Nassau County is experiencing a large increase in COVID-19 cases, and area hospitals are experiencing an increase in COVID-19 admissions and deaths.
So, what really changed? Before, one could wear a mask if they wanted, or not wear a mask if they wanted. Now, after all that, one can wear a mask if they want, or not wear a mask if they want. Since we all knew that was going to be the outcome before the meeting even happened (and the presence of the Opt Out forms on the County’s website proves, at least to me, that the vote was already in), what was the purpose of the meeting? Seems like a waste of time!!
I think one outcome will be that there is an expectation of one wearing a mask, especially if the unions agree to make staff and faculty wear masks. It will be much healthier for all if more people are wearing masks.
Wearing a mask is useless . Di you wear a mask during the flu season when 400,000 people died each year from the flu????
Stop the propaganda already.
Ms. Ciresi – may I ask your source for the 400,000 number? The source I found (usafacts.org) posted the following
I found the following about usafacts.org at the marketrealist.com website:
“Who funds usafacts.org?
“Since usafacts.org is free to use but has bills to pay, who foots its bills? USAFacts is funded by Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie Ballmer. The project cost $10 million to launch and running the site costs between $3 million and $5 million a year. The organization says it doesn’t accept funding from external sources, such as outside donations or grants.
“USAFacts believes relying on its founders to foot its bills makes it independent and ensures it remains nonpartisan. Aside from not accepting external funding, usafacts.org doesn’t receive nonprofit tax exemption. USAFacts also paid $10 million to air a television ad campaign during the 2020 presidential debate in order to encourage Americans to visit the site for nonpartisan facts.”
Google: “UAB study, among others, shows masks are effective in preventing spread of COVID-19″ The study was just released yesterday.
You can also find more mask info by Googling, “Researchers from NC State, UNC study effectiveness of masks, random testing in schools”
So, basically masks are optional. Why bother with the silly forms? The entire thing is totally ridiculous.
Here’s why. When an unmasked child contracts COVID, the parent cannot blame the school district because there is now a record the parent affirmatively chose to opt out of a school district recommendation designed to provide additional protection from the spread of the virus. But I’m sure the same parents will be the first to sue the school district for not protecting their precious little child.
The entire thing is totally ridiculous. I need to move to another planet…because this one no longer makes any sense.
Mr. Kelly, can we help you pack!