State rep. demands Lee County Schools get rid of mask mandate

Reporter: Gail Levy Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
FILE Photo: Florida House Rep. Spencer Roach (Fla-R) of District 79 on Jan. 29, 2021. Credit: WINK News.

State Rep. Spencer Roach (Fla-R) sent a letter to Interim Superintendent Ken Savage of Lee County Schools Friday to let him and the school district know he does not approve of the school mask mandate presently in effect.

In his letter, Roach demands Savage drop the mask mandate by end of day Monday and allow parents to decide if their children will wear masks in schools.

“Parents — not the government — have the sole authority to make health care decisions for their children, and I will use all the powers of my office to defend their right to do so,” Roach sent in his letter.

Roach said in his letter, if Lee County Schools doesn’t comply, he will submit a formal request to the governor and state education commissioner to fire Savage from his position.

“I certainly will follow through with my directive in the letter,” Roach told WINK News. “I will be contacting the governor Tuesday morning if the school board or superintendent or school board refuses to follow the law.”

Roach is the state representative of District 79, which covers parts of Lee County that includes Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers and areas east of the City of Fort Myers.

School board member Melisa Giovanelli wants the opt out.

“It really is about the parents’ choice because it’s not up to me to raise someone’s child and make that decision for them,” Giovanelli said.

Board member Mary Fischer want’s to stick with the plan for the next two weeks.

“I think it’s important for us to make sure that we are making every effort to keep our students and our staff as safe as possible,” Fischer said.

Lee County Schools told us it received the letter from Roach’s office at the end of the regular business day Friday and will review it.

There are two weeks left of the 30-day mask mandate at Lee County schools. If it sticks, the District will look at the COVID-19 cases and discuss the mandate.

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