Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said he would not pay the salaries of school board officials that enforce the wearing of facemasks.
Gatekeepers News reports that DeSantis’ office on Monday said the Florida Board of Education may withhold salaries of school officials who go against the governor’s executive order, saying “education funding is intended to benefit students first and foremost, not systems.”
DeSantis had on July 30, issued an executive order banning mask mandates in Florida’s schools.
“With respect to enforcing any financial consequences for non-compliance of state law regarding these rules and ultimately the rights of parents to make decisions about their children’s education and health care decisions,” DeSantis’ office said in the statement, “it would be the goal of the State Board of Education to narrowly tailor any financial consequences to the offense committed.”
“For example, the State Board of Education could move to withhold the salary of the district superintendent or school board members, as a narrowly tailored means to address the decision-makers who led to the violation of law.”
Alberto M. Carvalho, superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, while reacting to the statement issued by the Governor’s office, insisted that he won’t jeopardise the health of the students because of his pay as he noted that the school would consult health experts regarding the issue.
“We have established a process that requires consultation with experts in the areas of public health and medicine. We will follow this process, which has served us well, and then make a final decision.
“At no point shall I allow my paycheck; a small price to pay considering the gravity of the issue and the potential impact to the health and well-being of our students and dedicated employees.”
Gatekeepers News reports that Monday’s development comes after the Governor and President Joe Biden traded words over the mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures.
