Lee County Schools must respond to DOE’s request to reverse mask mandate

Reporter: Sydney Persing Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Credit: WINK News

We reported The School District of Lee County is under investigation over the terms of its mask mandate by Florida Department of Education. DOE wants an explanation about how the District will reverse its mask mandate and comply with the governor’s executive order.

The clock is ticking now for Lee County Schools, since it must respond to a letter sent by education Commissioner Richard Corcoran in his request for the District to comply with the state.

MORE: Education Commissioner letter to Lee County Schools

A District spokesman told us Lee County Schools will reply to DOE by the deadline — 10 a.m. Wednesday. But he would not say anything about whether the district will lift its mask mandate like the state wants.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is not backing down. DOE is not backing down. So time will tell if the District plans to adhere to the education commissioner’s request or defy it.

“We’ll see, of course,” political scientist Aubrey Jewett said. “I could be wrong. Maybe they’ll all comply. I doubt it. After all of this, I doubt it.”

Jewett is willing to bet nobody’s backing down now.

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