FLORIDA WITHHOLDS FUNDING FOR TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS

The Sunshine State fight over school mask mandates is continuing, even as a lawsuit works its way through the courts.

Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran announced Monday that the department has withheld funds in the amount of monthly school board member salaries from Alachua and Broward county districts for implementing mask mandates without an opt-out option.

The withholding of funds will continue monthly “until each school board complies with state law and rules,” the statement said.

Florida is one of several Republican-led states that have prohibited mask mandates in schools, yet as of last week 10 districts accounting for more than half of the state’s enrollment have imposed mask mandates.

Ignores ruling: The announcement came despite a ruling from Leon County Judge John Cooper on Friday that the executive order was “without legal authority.” Cooper issued an injunction stopping the state from withholding funding from districts that institute mask mandates.

The Biden administration has said federal funding can cover the costs of officials that lose pay.