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Another change in the Palm Beach County School District's masks policy, just a day ahead of the start of the new school year.
When classes start on Tuesday, Superintendent Mike Burke now says facial coverings will be mandatory inside schools and buses for all students, unless a part or guardian opts out through a signed note to the school, informing their child's first-period teacher of the decision.
All staff will be required to wear masks indoors and on district transportation with no option of opting out.
In a letter sent out on Saturday, Burke writes that he will revisit the facial covering requirement every 30 days and adjust accordingly.
The superintendent had previously said that masks would be "strongly encouraged," but Burke says that was before the Florida Board of Education adopted emergency rules that impact the opening of schools. He also cites the Florida Department of Health's emergency rule mandating that parents must be given an opt-out choice if facial coverings are required by a school district.
Other school districts in the state, including Hillsborough, are also allowing students to opt out of a mandatory mask rule.