Parents push for masks requirements to reach their end in SWFL schools

Man have concerns for mask requirements in Southwest Florida schools during the pandemic, and many continue to voice them in front of administrators in a push to see students return to school without mandates for face coverings.

Parents in Lee County want their students to have the option to take their masks off, and it looks like that could happen next school year.

Superintendent Greg Adkins is recommending to make masks voluntary for next school year. That’s following the recommendation from Florida Department of Education.

That didn’t stop parents from speaking during public comment at the Lee County School Board meeting Tuesday about their concerns for students current required to wear masks in school.

Masks will be required in Lee County school buildings for the rest of the school year.

Several people voiced their objections to the District’s policy, but things could look different next school year.

In a memo to the board, Adkins is recommending masks become voluntary, but says they need to stay for the final weeks of the semester.

“I don’t like wearing masks either,” Adkins said. “I just think it’s prudent. We’ve been successful. We have graduation, testing coming up.”

The District also made a contractual agreement with the teachers unions to have masks in place for the rest of the school year.

“So teachers would come back to work at the height of the pandemic. We do understand there’s been some changes and we continue to evaluate those changes.”

That mask agreement with the teachers unions lasts until June 30.

The voluntary mask policy could go into effect as soon as July 1st.