Unlike Broward County's school board, which is fighting the state's objection to its student mask mandate, Monroe County is following the Health Department's orders by offering parents an opt-out to its student facial covering requirement.
"It was the best thing we could do where we say that masks are required then there still is an option, just that they have to fill out a form," says School Board Chair John Dick.
While he preferred to keep masks optional, he says the decision to update the district's mask optional policy a day before school started was made after hearing from medical experts on Tuesday and concerned parents.
"You hear this, you know, there's a lot more people and children getting sick, so parents, you know, well parents and some of the staff were nervous, and I understand that."
The policy will be reviewed every two weeks during school board meetings.